For a comprehensive list, we encourage you to visit our Acclaimed Knights Wall in the Student Union

2019 Christopher Clifford
2019 Zoe Barbeau
2018 Minh-Chau Le2018 Latifah Maasarani2017 Andrew Haines
2017 Nicholas Kosan
2016 Robert Bauer
2016 Catherine Ninah2015 Andrew Foster
2015 John Vastola
2014 Richard Joshua Murdock
2013 Richard Joshua Murdock
2012 Christopher Frye
2011 Whitney Keith
2010 Whitney Keith
2009 Ashley Ewh
2008 Ashley EwhScholarship Website
Angela Shar

"I am extremely honored to have received the Astronaut Scholarship, and it means so much to me that ASF, the Burnett Honors College, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, and UCF support my research journey. The Astronaut Scholar Foundation has been truly incredible and continues to provide ASF scholars with ongoing leadership opportunities and events to broaden our network and build connections everywhere in the world. I am beyond thankful."
Catherine Ninah

“I am extremely grateful for my ASF scholarship and network! ASF provided me with confidence and support to make an impact in my community and the world. After receiving ASF, I went on to have an invention and be a first author on a publication at NASA on travel to Mars and am currently a Aerospace & Defense SME at the #1 technology consulting company in the world.”
Latifah Maasarani

"Being a part of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's close-knit community means being part of a family comprised of many of the greatest minds in STEM. ASF scholars are united by our drive and passion to make a positive change in the world with the heroes of yesterday and the innovators of tomorrow. "


Minh-Chau Le

"The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation goes beyond just providing financial support to its scholars. It excels at fostering meaningful relationships between scholars and professional mentors."
Riley Havel


“Becoming a part of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation family has already opened my eyes to a world of opportunity. I am honored to be a part of such an impressive cohort - I have no doubt they will make major contributions to their respective fields.”
Rishi Basdeo

"The financial and professional support from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation has been invaluable as I have transitioned into graduate school and beyond. I only hope that I have an impact on another student in the way that ASF has for me."
2018 Rachel Rothstein-Safra
2018 Karla Aurazo
2018 Caleb Archie2017 Philip Balikowski2015 Thomas Huang
2012 Gabriel Willman
2012 Anthony Aslou
2005 Cassandra LongScholarship Website
Philip Balikowski

“The Boren Scholarship provided me the unique opportunity to immerse myself in a completely different culture, obtain working knowledge of a critical language, and gain friends and experiences I never would have otherwise. I’m beyond grateful for having been given the incredible opportunity to study abroad and for all the help the OPA gave me throughout the application process.”
2015 Austin Chegini
2015 Thomas Huang
2014 Thomas Huang
2009 Melissa Kronenberger
2009 Morris Esquenazi
2008 Nathan Burns
2007 Michael MarcousScholarship Website
2020 Gary Hoppenworth
2020 Ashley Santana
2019 Katherine Stahlhut2018 George Walters-Marrah2018 Minh-Chau Le (Honorable Mention)
2017 Joey Velez-Ginorio
2013 Christopher Frye
2009 Ashley Ewh
2007 Naomi Haskins (Honorable Mention)
2006 Sohang GandhiScholarship Website
Devin Burris

"The Goldwater Scholarship has given me the ability to support myself in my last year of undergraduate while continuing on in research and outreach before applying to graduate studies. This scholarship also helps me become a more competitive applicant to my prospective graduate programs."

George Walters-Marrah

"The Goldwater scholarship has opened a lot of doors for me. People reach out to you instead of the other way around. Sometimes offering fully funded experiences that you don't even need apply for since having the scholarship is enough. Additionally, if you ask, people are more open to doing things for you, such as funding an impromptu internship. I've been able to participate in amazing opportunities that seemed to just fall in my lap since I've gotten the scholarship and this has allowed me to focus my efforts on other things, such as my research and my classes."

Riley Havel

“Being named a Goldwater Scholar has given me the confidence to pursue more ambitious goals.”
2020 Nicholas Cox
2020 Joshua Forer
2020 Jenika Katz
2020 Rayner Seavey2020 Zachary Stein2020 Irene Tanner
2020 Abigail Weisse
2020 Khadejah Khan
2019 Noa Tann
2019 Alexis Jahncke
2019 Haley Lehew
2019 Evan Rosato
2019 Paige Timmerman2018 La Toya Crittenden2018 Kristine Carlos
2018 Virginia Vasquez2018 Linda Rossmann2018 Estefania Bohorquez
2018 Corin Staves
2017 Alyssa Bayless
2017 Erica Falkenhausen
2017 Amanda Mayer2016 Keyana Terry2016 Emily Cadet
2016 Gabrielle Goodloe2016 David Morton2016 Amanda Fleming2015 Amy Crawford
2015 Rachel Brock
2015 Parisa Fathi
2015 Aleksandra Krawczyk
2015 Tara Langford
2015 Diane Lieu2015 Irina Pidberejna2015 Andrea Rachel2014 Christopher Szczerba
2014 Rose Tran2014 Albert Manero2014 Michelle Quinones-Rico2013 Joe Figel2013 Ame Proietti
2013 Amanda Welborn
2013 Anna Denisenko2013 Mary-Kate Murphy2013 Paige Brice
2013 Sarah Parker
2012 Jennifer Bencivenga
2012 Steven KoboskoScholarship Website
Albert Manero

"The Fulbright Fellowship provided an incredible experience and opened my eyes to what global research and collaboration can accomplish. Being able to experience new ways to explore design and collaboration really broadened my perspective and changed how I approach research."
Amanda Flemeing

"Working in Vietnam as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant was a life changing experience. I will always cherish the memories and relationships that I made during my Fulbright experience, and I will use the lessons I learned to help me move forward in career in diplomacy."
Andrea Rachel

"My Fulbright experience was more than exercise in professional development and intercultural exchange. I gained a level of perspective and boldness that I didn’t think possible. Everything I do now is with a more open mind, flexibility, tolerance, and eagerness to learn, to understand. I now reach out and grab what I seek, and slow down to savor it."

David Morton

“The opportunities granted to me as a Fulbright scholar have opened the world up to me in every imaginable sense. The professional contacts I built allowed me to develop an international network of researchers who have played a significant role in my career development and job search. The friendships I made both with my Fulbright colleagues, fellow students, along with people I met during my travels and living in my host city are ones I will treasure for a lifetime. The challenge of living and immersing myself in a new environment resulted in rewards that went far beyond the academic, I also grew as a person from my Fulbright experience.”
Irina Pidberejna

"The Fulbright English Teaching (ETA) Grant in Ufa, Russia, absolutely changed my life both professionally and personally. Through it, I was given the opportunity to live and work in another country and teach the English Language. Now, I have graduated with my Master's in TESOL and know that through teaching, is how I will make a difference in the world."
Joe Figel

"Unlike small grants allotted for research time during breaks between academic semesters, the Fulbright scholarship allowed for a complete immersion in the Colombian culture for an entire year. During that time, I collected the bulk of the data for my dissertation."
Keyana Terry

“With this award I was able to study abroad in the Czech Republic, my first major international trip. This experience ignited my passion for travel. Since then, I have received additional opportunities to study and work abroad as an educator. I am eternally grateful for UCF and this award because of the lasting impact it has had on my life.”
La Toya Crittenden

"Participating in Fulbright Korea has changed me in both expected and unexpected ways. I look forward to every day and the challenges it brings me!"
Linda Rossmann

“Receiving a Fulbright fellowship to spend ten months in Germany while finishing my thesis is the sort of life-changing opportunity I never expected to have. Conducting research at the German Aerospace Center as a student is an honor and a privilege, and living in a foreign country provides a new and exciting perspective.”
Mary-Kate Murphy

“Without the guidance, patience, feedback, and incredible mentorship from the Office of Prestigious Awards here at UCF, I would not have been able to express myself or reflect as deeply as I was able to.With all the support I received, I went on to teach in Spain through Spanish government and Taiwan through the Fulbright program. These life changing experiences paved my path towards becoming an elementary school teacher helping under served youth at a Title III school in San Francisco explore their identities and different perspectives.”
Zachary Stein

"Receiving this Fulbright Grant gives me the opportunity to not only collaborate in research and work alongside expert scientists, well known in their fields, but to also forge connections as I redefine and combine different perspectives from my own and from my host country as I immerse myself and live in an entirely different language and culture for several months."
2011 Stephanie Parenti2009 Christopher EstochScholarship Website
Amanda Fleming

"The Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship has provided me with the opportunity to pursue a graduate education in Intercultural and International Communication and pursue a career as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. I am looking forward to serving my country and building bridges as a U.S. diplomat, and I am thankful for the support of my UCF community."
Christopher Estoch


"The Pickering Fellowship presented me the opportunity to represent the United States and UCF overseas as a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State. I have been fortunate enough to work in challenging places like the Philippines, Colombia, and Kenya to promote U.S. national interests and values and represent the American people as we strive for a more prosperous and secure world."

2021 Kaherine Stahlhut
2021 Erica Michelle Lindbeck
2021 Lianne Brito
2021 Jake Thomas Carter
2021 Stephanie Castelin2021 Brendon Anthony Cavainolo2021 Robert Logan Greene
2021 Latifah Amber Maasarani2021 Kelsey Perez2021 Bryan Jose Medina
2021 Chiu Lok Poon
2021 Brittany Marie Robaina-Caicedo
2021 Ashley Santana
2021 Natalie R Verdiguel
2021 Ali Tareq Younis
2020 George Walters-Marrah
2020 Bridget Vincent
2020 Milton Valdiviezo
2020 Angie Torres-Beltran2020 Irene Tanner2020 Leslie Simms
2020 Chelsea Shoben2020 Adam Searles2020 Alex Ruiz2020 Victor Rodriguez
2020 Lindsay Martin2020 Angelina Leary2020 Debraliz Aragones
2020 Carla Garcia
2020 Samuel Greaves
2019 Gisselle Pombar
2019 Desia Bacon
2019 Sire Kassama
2019 Tristan Reynoso
2019 Elizabeth Wait
2019 Michelle Gaynor
2019 Minh-Chau Le
2018 Jennifer Nicole Stewart
2018 Joshua Aaron Bowren2018 Sarah Davenport2018 Estefania Bohorquez
2018 Kursti DeLello
2018 Baggio Angelo Evangelista
2018 Ulbert Jose Botero
2018 Geena Ildefonso
2018 Paige Eleanor Paulsen
2017 Brian Zamarripa Roman
2017 Rachel Sampson
2017 Antonia Ronalda Bass
2017 Jacob Kimmel
2017 Stephanie Maria Matos
2017 Jenna Lynne Pappalardo
2017 Samantha Mensah
2017 Mateo Gomez
2017 Riley Gentry
2016 Nicholas Alvaro Coles
2016 Morgan McSweeney
2016 Serenela Mont Pelier
2016 Bryan Wilder
2016 Orlando Rafael Arias
2016 Grace Avecilla
2016 Jessica Chambers
2016 Ricardo Emilio Lovato
2015 Angela Rodriguez
2015 Alvaro Velasquez
2015 Christopher Clukay
2015 Imad Hanhan
2015 Jessica Siler
2015 Katrina Phillips
2015 Richard Joshua Murdock2015 Zachary Loparo2014 Joanna Elizabeth Lewis
2014 Joany Babilonia
2014 Kristina Marie Mallory
2014 Lorelle Nicole Pye
2014 Peter Tonner
2013 Kelly Cox
2013 Talia Field
2013 Sanna Siddiqui
2013 Monica Thomas
2013 Tatiana Viecco
2012 Christine Dykstra
2012 Jacqueline Espuiaqui
2012 Ashley Ewh
2012 Spencer Frank
2012 Elise Hernandez
2012 Perry Johnson
2012 Lilian Milanes
2012 Christina Restrepo
2012 Emily Sassano
2012 Reginald Tran
2011 Robert Ashton Van Gorder
2011 Sara Beth Linker
2011 Jennifer Heppert
2011 Ashley Jones
2011 Corey McCall
2011 Rene Orlando Diaz
2011 Andres Osorio
2011 Breena Stoner
2011 Keon Vereen
2011 Catherine Tupper
2010 Anamary Leal
2010 Amy Hoover
2009 Roberto Miguez
2009 Melonie Williams2008 Naomi Brownstein2007 Enrique Ortiz
2006 Sohang GandhiScholarship Website
Adam Searles


"Receiving the NSF GRFP represented the culmination of my hard work at UCF. My hard work, combined with UCF's generous investment in its students, enabled me to pursue my graduate education via the NSF GRFP and continue to strive to become a research faculty in the field of marine ecology."

Alex Ruiz

"Being Selected for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship is a hallmark event in my life and provides me with great confidence that all the hard work and sacrifices have been worth it. Their support allows me to be in full control of my future and work creatively and freely in any field or project I find interest in, which brings me no greater joy. This recognition is a reminder of how the continual pursuit of excellence, passion for the arts, and community involvement can have compounding effects on your own life and others."
Angelina Leary

“I was awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. This award is allowing me to focus on my passions, research and mentoring underrepresented students. I am very honored and humbled receiving this award.”
Brendon Cavainolo

“NSF GRFP is important to me because it allows me to pursue my passions in research without having to worry about finding funding for the project I want to work on.”
Irene Tanner

“The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship allowed me the opportunity to complete my Master's in Computer Engineering and gain valuable research experience in computer vision without having to worry about finances.”
Kelsey Perez

"Always try your best even when you don’t even believe in yourself yet. You are more capable than what you think. Receiving the NSF GRFP award confirmed this to me. Don’t be afraid to fail, be afraid not to try."
Naomi Brownstein

"UCF is a unique and special place; I am pleased to write this letter to recognize and thank the BHC, OPA, and UCF for their remarkable dedication to students.
During my last month of undergraduate study at UCF, I was fortunate to find out that I would receive a Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) from the National Science Foundation (NSF). All of the support and dedication from the Burnett Honors College and the Office of Prestigious Awards laid the foundation for my success. BHC and OPA staff encouraged my career development from the beginning of my time at UCF. Staff identified lofty end goals such as the NSF GRFP and charted steps toward success, including internal opportunities such as the Student Mentoring Academic Research Team (SMART) program, Honors in the Major (HIM) and external activities such as NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs, and recommended “stepping stone” applications such as the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, for which I received an honorable mention.
The NSF GRFP was a gift that helped me both personally and professionally. The fellowship provided financial stability and enabled me to focus on my initial graduate coursework and research. The research I conducted during that time resulted in a master’s degree with a departmental award for best master’s paper in that calendar year, a publication, and research experience with an excellent advisor who continued to advise me for my dissertation. In addition, receipt of the fellowship has demonstrated my ability to acquire grant funding and continued to serve as an asset in my career in academia. I will forever be grateful to UCF for the initial professional development that helped me launch into my current career trajectory."
Sarah Davenport

"To begin my PhD with my own funding from the NSF means that I have the resources to fully devote myself to my passion and the power to direct my own scholarly career."
Zachary Loparo

"The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship provided me flexibility in choosing the research topic I wanted to pursue in my studies, and ultimately enabled me to work on a collaborative research project between the department of mechanical engineering and college of optics. It has also led to opportunities to develop connections with researchers from a range of specialties by working on various side projects. Overall, the fellowship has greatly extended the scope of the work I have been able to do and has given me new connections for future opportunities, increasing the value of my graduate studies as a whole."
Nicholas Grandchamps

“The Charles B. Rangel Fellowship changed the trajectory of my academic and professional life by affording me the ability to obtain an advanced degree, to study abroad in the Middle East, and to work on Capitol Hill and in a U.S. Embassy. Because of these opportunities, and because of the mentors I gained along the way, I now work to protect U.S. national security and promote democratic values across the world as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer.”
2007 Casey Nesselhauf (Finalist)
2006 Cassandra Long (Honorable Mention)Scholarship Website
Steven Carrion

"The Udall Foundation Scholarship allowed me to access an incredible network, and demonstrated the immense passion and commitment I have for my career goals to my graduate schools and employers."
2005 Stacey Yates
2000 Laura WakefieldScholarship Website
Hannah Markwardt

"The James Madison Memorial Fellowship allowed me to launch a career in education without any student loans or debt. I met amazing professionals in my field and had once-in-a-lifetime learning experiences. I'm very grateful for the opportunities the Madison Fellowship gave me."
2017 Joshua Winograd
2016 Alice Neira
2016 Grey Dodge
2016 Sarai Aldana
2010 Margaret Sanders
2010 John Phillips
2010 Adam Giery2009 Timothy Mason2006 Jennifer Hartzler
2006 Courtney Douglass2004 Alexis Teicher2004 Brian BattlesScholarship Website
Zachary Good

"The Florida Gubernatorial Fellowship is a highly-selective program run through the Executive Office of the Governor that has allowed me to develop my research and policy skills while obtaining an in-depth view of state government. The opportunity to interact with the state’s top leaders and learn how to apply my previous experience and skills for the service of Florida has been a truly rewarding experience.“
Timothy Mason

“The Florida Gubernatorial Fellowship offered me an invaluable window into the top echelons of state government, and helped prepare me for a career in public leadership and service.”
Alexis Teicher

“Serving as a Gubernatorial Fellow was an amazing opportunity to contribute to Florida’s state government. The lessons from serving the state of Florida continue to help me today as a practicing regulatory attorney.”
2021 Stephanie Santiago
2021 Marcia Phan
2021 Jose Angelo Oro
2021 Madison Marsh
2021 Morgan Lakomiak
2021 Alexandria Hart
2021 Janine Do
2020 Zoe Antoinette
2020 Esther Fouroozi
2020 Kiara Jefferson
2020 Mariana Kellis
2020 Allison Kirklnad
2020 Rodrigo Mendez
2020 Elisa Morris
2020 Jessica Reck
2020 Lauren Sangricco
2020 Annabelinda Zhou
2020 Mahalaleelle Jolivain
2020 Ariane Machado
2020 Lauren Sherman
2020 Rabia Zubair
2019 Angelica Torres
2019 Jehojada Merilan
2019 Andrew Almeyda
2019 Krystal Williams
2019 Brittany Dzienny
2019 Valentina Nino
2019 Melissa Salas
2019 Danielle Sobel
2019 Myayuna Williams
2018 Tahnita Amurzish
2018 Savannah Zona2018 Geraldine Versfeld2018 Daniela Castelblanco
2018 Betsali Clinton Vargas
2017 Louis Dor
2017 Vanessa Gomez
2017 Tatiana Ocampo
2017 Sakeenah Khan
2017 Natasha Hutchinson
2016 Thierry Adrien
2016 Jose Medina
2016 Andres Riveros
2015 Paul Sebastian
2015 Michelle Otero
2015 Javana Dunnom
2015 Yahsiel Torres
2015 Welsonne Renoir
2015 Taynah Oliveira2015 Sheila Greene2015 Nelia Castro
2015 Maryam Atallah
2015 Lily Nguyen
2015 Kevin Nestor
2015 Jose Cotelo
2015 Daniil Kozin
2015 Christina Dixon
2015 Anthony Parlatti
2014 Adrianna Campbell
2013 Jason Haglund
2013 Forrest Hardy
2013 Alphonso Carty
2012 Landon Splitter
2012 Gabriel Willman
2012 David Rodriguez
2012 Brandy Brown
2011 Samora Demesmin
2011 Lucie Rincher
2011 Shai Porat
2011 Kyle Cowan
2011 Chelsea Irish
2010 Elan Azuz
2008 Wyatt ChampionScholarship Website
Geraldine Versfeld

“The Gilman scholarship allowed me to study abroad and live in a new country which expanded my worldview and allowed me to learn in diverse environments. I think the personal growth and communication skills I gained over the course of my time abroad will help prepare me for graduate school and my future career as an electrical engineer. I studied at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. I was really interested in going to Melbourne because it is regarded as one of the most livable cities and it has a really vibrant coffee and cultural scene. I really loved living in Melbourne, and I am so grateful that the Gilman Scholarship helped me afford my study abroad experience!”
Sheila Greene

"Receiving the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship made it possible for my lifelong dream to travel to Austria to come true. Living in Innsbruck, Austria for 4 months in 2015 was more than I had hoped for. It was the best academic decision I ever made. I was able to get an international perspective in my studies in hospitality, in particular, international tourism. I have a whole new appreciation for the people and cultures of this world as I studied with students and under instructors who also came from all over the globe. In addition, this scholarship foundation continues to give me post study abroad support in my career pursuits. Again, best academic decision ever!"