Office for Scholarship and Fellowship Advising

2024 Scholarship and Fellowship Recipients

Astronaut Scholarship

Sophie Kiehl

Sophie Kiehl is an incoming senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Microbiology and Infectious Disease, and she has studied immunology, virology, and bioinformatics. For her Honors thesis, she plans to examine how a vaccine's lactate secretion impacts its efficacy. With the support of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences. She is passionate about supporting scientists, which is why she is a student ambassador for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Undergraduate Research. She enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and playing games with friends.

Critical Language Scholarship

Fulbright

Nathan Renshaw

Nathan is a recent graduate of Colorado State University, where he earned a Master's in English Literature. He studied World Philosophies and Religions as well as literature during his undergraduate studies. Currently serving as the Writing Instructional Specialist at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado’s eastern plains, Nathan brings a passion for teaching and writing to his work. His commitment to education extends to experience with the CLC's Speakout! program and plans to volunteer with Writers Unbound at the Sterling prison until he departs in Spring of 2025. His Fulbright experience in Argentina will allow him to further develop his teaching skills, immerse himself in the country's vibrant literary scene, and build cross-cultural community. An avid rock climber, Nathan is thrilled to explore the Argentinian Cordillera. Outside of his academic pursuits, he enjoys staying connected to his CSU meditation club the Sitting Owl Sangha, watching film, writing, taking care of his late grandmother’s garden, and, of course, reading.

Jo Semby holding her CSU Diploma in her cap and gown

Jo Smeby

Jo Smeby (she/her) is a 2023 graduate from the College of Agricultural Science with degrees in Equine Science and Agricultural Education. Her passion is bringing agricultural literacy to urban areas and learning more about international agriculture. She was raised near Seattle, Washington and taught agriculture in northern Colorado after graduating. In her time at CSU, she was an Admissions Ambassador, College of Agricultural Sciences Recruitment & Student Success Ambassador, and volunteered at the Temple Grandin Equine Center. She was a Summer Study Abroad student at PURPAN in Toulouse, France in 2022 and studied viticulture & enology. She enjoys reading, hiking, and studying French, Spanish, and Chinese in her free time.

Zel Gabriel

Zel Gabriel began learning French when she was 14 years old. Her participation in the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) in 2017-18 sparked her interest in the field of Second Language Acquisition. She came to Colorado State University in 2019 to pursue a dual M.A. in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language and in French Language, Literature, & Culture. During her Fulbright experience in Senegal, she will foster intercultural exchange by partnering with U.S. French classrooms and help students to hone their skills as multilingual individuals. She also hopes to work with community members to promote regional languages through the creation of linguistic resources. She lives with her beloved three cats.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Award

European Politics and Society

Henry Alvarez III

Henry Alvarez III is a first-generation, fourth-year student triple-majoring in US Political Science, German Language, Literature, and Culture, and European International Studies, with two minors in Legal Studies and Interdisciplinary Russian Studies. In looking to learn more about the global community, Henry studied abroad in Denmark and gained in-depth experience in a different culture and a different standard of education, increasing his drive for international education. During his studies, Henry was involved with the CSU German and Russian clubs, serving as financial officer for the latter. In his study abroad, he volunteered for the Reach the World non-profit organization and, as a Gilman Scholar, took a study tour in Brussels. This enlightened him on the Erasmus Mundus program and inspired him to apply to the European Politics and Society program at Charles University in Prague. As an opportunity provided by among the oldest and best universities Europe has to offer, Henry is humbled and energized to take his studies to the next level.

Human Rights Policy and Practice

Sydney Davies

Sydney Davies graduated from CSU with a Bachelors in Social Work (BSW) and Sociology (BA). During her time at CSU she held an internship at Harvest Farm, a non-profit supporting drug and alcohol rehabilitation. She did her Field Experience abroad at a non-profit called CORM. CORM supports children taken out of child slavery in the Volta region of Ghana. After graduating, Sydney worked under the British government's response to modern slavery and human trafficking as a Specialist Support Worker. While doing support work, Sydney applied to the Erasmus Mundus Human Rights Policy and Practice program. She is honored to accept a place in this program and begin her studies in Sweden. After graduation, Sydney plans to continue working in anti-trafficking.

Goldwater

Paris Kiehl

Paris Kiehl is a third-year Honors student majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Microbiology and Infectious Disease. She works in a vaccine development lab that is creating a probiotic-based vaccine against rotavirus. She is studying the effect of lactic acid secretion of vaccine immunogenicity. After graduating, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences. Paris is also a College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences ambassador and Associate Editor for the Journal of Undergraduate Research. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, reading books, and watching films. She is very grateful to receive the Goldwater Scholarship thanks to the support of CSU and its faculty.

P. E. O. Scholar

Marina Rodriguez

Marina Rodriguez is a PhD candidate in the Biology department where she focuses on conservation genomics in migratory birds. Specifically, her work aims to understand if and how migratory birds are genetically adapting to the changing climate across their annual cycle. Marina also earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at CSU in the Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Department. After graduation, Marina will pursue a career in academia where she can fulfill her love of research and teaching.

Brittany Lynner

Hailing from Stow, OH, Brittany Lynner (she/her) is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology program at Colorado State University. She is also an Occupational Health Psychology (OHP) trainee supported by the Mountain & Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC) funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Her research interests include the intersection between equity and wellness in the workplace (e.g., authenticity at work, mitigating interpersonal mistreatment, supporting employees across identities), the assessment and prevention of burnout, and the workplace experiences of vulnerable workers (e.g., those in recovery from substance misuse, previously incarcerated individuals, gig workers). Prior to beginning her MS/PhD program in Fall 2020, Brittany earned her MA in Higher Education & Student Affairs and BA in Psychology (with minors in Spanish and Leadership Studies) from The Ohio State University. As an I-O psychologist, Brittany wants to help organizations cultivate a culture that prioritizes employee health and well-being, develops leaders, and engages in equitable practices. In her free time, Brittany enjoys rooting for The Ohio State Buckeyes, attending stand-up comedy and improv shows, and spending time with her family and rescue dogs.

Christina Welch

Christina completed the joint international master’s degree in Water Cooperation and Diplomacy from Oregon State University, IHE-Delft and the Universidad para la Paz. Her work through the CSU Agricultural Water Quality Program inspired her to pursue a PhD in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at CSU. The PEO Scholar Award has enabled her to research the decision-making process for farmers and ranchers as they adapt their irrigation and best management practices in Colorado. She is looking forward to advancing collaborative efforts to support water sharing agreements in the future. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, woodworking, salsa dancing and trail running, though not all at the same time.

Rangel Fellowship

Justin Frigault

Justin Frigault was born and raised in Irvine, California. He served in the Marine Corps from 2015 – 2020 as an Engineer Equipment Operator and a Marine Security Guard at U.S. Embassies in Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and South Korea. After achieving the rank of Sergeant and completing his service honorably, he enrolled at Colorado State University. He is a proud first-generation university student who graduated from CSU with Cum Laude honors in the Fall of 2023. He completed his bachelor’s degree, majoring in English with a concentration on languages, a minor in Russian Studies, and a second minor in Linguistics and Culture. He was a 2022 Critical Language Scholar, a 2023 Boren Scholar, and a 2023 Gilman Scholar. He has been accepted to Texas A&M University to pursue a Master of International Affairs degree before he begins his career as a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State as part of his Rangel Fellowship. He loves traveling, coffee, spending time outdoors, indoor rock climbing, working out, and reading in his free time.

Rotary Global Grant

Thany Dykson

Thany Dykson is a 2021 graduate from Warner College, where she studied Conservation Biology and minored in Spanish and Global Environmental Sustainability. She has spent the last three years making a path for herself in the marine world, conducting field research with endangered sea turtles in southern Florida. Her passion for the ocean led her to spend multiple semesters abroad during her time at CSU, including studying in Indonesia and at the CSU Todos Santos campus. In her years on campus she served as a Presidential Ambassador, Anschutz Scholar, and an Honors Ambassador. She also earned both the Critical Language and Gilman scholarship in support of her studies in Indonesia. Thany is thrilled to begin her MSc in Oceanography this fall at the University of Southampton in England, where she will be studying the impacts of climate change on coral reefs. She is thrilled to continue pursuing her passion of ocean conservation thanks to Rotary and the Global Grant. In her free time she enjoys salsa dancing, scuba diving, hiking, and yoga.

Truman Finalist

Alex Diggs

Alex, originally from Aurora Colorado, is a junior studying Social Work in the College of Health & Human Sciences with a minor in Spanish Literature, Language, & Cultures. He is passionate about social justice driven work within health systems and plans on pursuing graduate degrees in Public Health and Social Work with a focus on shifting cycling cultural beliefs that reinforce systemic oppression.

At CSU Alex has engaged with several student organizations, he is a member of the School of Social Work’s Committee for Social Justice which works with students and faculty in the school to tackle equity and inclusions concerns and initiatives. He is also a member of the Alliance of Racially and Ethnically Diverse Social Workers, a recently created group that focuses on community and support building. Alex works at the university’s Student Disability Center centering disability justice in his student staff role there. In his free time Alex enjoys learning foreign languages, painting, and cooking.

Reaghan Fields

Reaghan Fields is a Junior at CSU studying International Studies with minors in Global Environmental Sustainability, International Development, and History. She currently works as the director of the undergraduate chapter of SoGES’s Student Sustainability Center, where she encourages involvement in sustainability with CSU students, facilitates campus-wide collaboration, and works to start up projects and initiatives that will better sustainability efforts at CSU. She plans to continue her education in graduate school, where she will get a Master of Arts in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development as well as a Master of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in environmental policy. Her goal is to fill the gaps in environmental justice, and to continue advocating for sustainability through local policymaking.

NSF GRFP Fellowship

Emily Gross

Emily Gross is studying human dimensions of natural resources at the Warner College of Natural Resources. Her research is based at the intersection of conservation and recreation. She is currently working on a social marketing campaign with Climbers for Bat Conservation to boost engagement with the organization and gain insights into rock climbers’ environmental attitudes. She plans on continuing her journey with the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department as a Ph.D. student at CSU this fall.

T. R. Heydman

T.R. Heydman is studying forestry at the Warner College of Natural Resources. His research focuses on finding more effective ways to represent Indigenous worldviews in natural resource policies and practices. He also is working to leverage contemporary instrumentation and geospatial approaches in a way that is more representative of the priorities of Native Nations and engaging for Native students. He plans to become a research professor, creating educational materials and applied field methodologies for Indigenous students and career professionals.

Alberto Ochoa Castillo

Alberto Ochoa Castillo is a chemistry Ph.D. student at CSU. His research focuses on the fundamentals of plant cryopreservation, an increasingly favorable method to preserve agriculturally important crops and plants threatened by climate change. He uses state-of-the-art microscopy methods to explore cryoprotectant molecules in plant tissue, and to determine subcellular anatomy in live plant tissue. After graduating, he aims to teach chemistry at a primarily undergraduate institution, focusing on increasing first-generation and Hispanic student participation in research.

NOAA Hollings Scholarship

Claire Labuda

Claire Labuda is a third year Honors scholar majoring in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. Concentrating in wildlife biology, she loves birds and hopes to have a career in Ornithology. She interned with the Chicago Audubon Society in highschool and spent the last semester abroad in Costa Rica researching sexual dimorphism in hummingbirds. Her hobbies include backpacking, hiking, yoga, running, and birding. She is a member of the CSU Outdoors Club and officer of the CSU Ornithology Club. After CSU she hopes to conduct research that helps scientists better understand how human activity is affecting wildlife behavior, along with raising environmental awareness on how humans and wildlife can sustainably coexist.

Claire is very excited to be chosen as a NOAA Hollings scholar and hopes to use the opportunity to expand her understanding of marine ecosystems along with making a positive impact on coastal communities by increasing environmental awareness in local areas during her internship.

Udall Scholarship

TJ Knutson

Terry J. Knutson is a Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biologist major with an interest in Urban Ecology and Human-Wildlife Coexistence. An avid outdoorsman and Navy veteran, Terry is a go-to student leader at his university. He is a Ducks Unlimited Officer at CSU and volunteers in habitat restoration activities. Terry was selected as a mentor for CSU's Warner College of Natural Resources where he mentors other non-traditional students pursuing natural resource-related degrees. In his free time, Terry enjoys playing guitar, photographing wildlife and landscapes, and exploring with his dog.