Students walk along the tree-lined quad at UC Davis, with a cyclist in the foreground and campus banners hang from light posts along the path.
UC Davis alumni and students set a new record this year for prestigious scholarship awards over the last decade. (UC Davis)

UC Davis celebrates record-breaking year of prestigious scholarship wins

A banner year of excellence in student achievements

UC Davis alumni and students set a new record this year for prestigious scholarship awards obtained over the last decade. Students received 23 scholarship awards across a range of some of the nation’s most competitive programs.

Prestigious scholarship recipients

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship recognizes less than 500 undergraduate second- and third-year students annually for their science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, research accomplishments and future potential.

  • Avantika Gokulnatha
  • Shih-Na Liu
  • Madeleine Rose

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship

The Rangel Graduate Fellowship prepares 45 exceptional young individuals for U.S. Foreign Service careers through internships, academic opportunities and professional development experiences.

  • Medelin Vasquez

David L.Boren Undergraduate Scholarship

Critical Language Scholarship

The Critical Language Scholarship program, known as CLS, continues to see success at UC Davis, with six recipients this year — tying the previous high in 2021. The CLS program offers students an opportunity to intensively study a language deemed critical by the U.S. State Department. Award recipients make rapid linguistic and cultural gains as they learn a year’s worth of knowledge over eight weeks. Applications for next year open in October. For more information, head to the Critical Language Scholarship page on the UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships website.  

Recipients

  • Oscar Boissy
    Arabic
  • Finnegan Jarrell
    Japanese
  • Whitne Moussan
    Arabic
  • Zain Patel
    Hindi
  • Angel Trazo
    Indonesian
  • Heidi Trinh
    Korean

The Boren Scholarship provides funds for U.S. students to study less commonly taught languages in regions critical to national interests.

  • Zain Patel

Donald A. Strauss Scholarship

The Strauss Scholarship funds ambitious public service projects proposed by college juniors who want to make an impact in their communities.

  • Vyoma Bhanap

Donald M. Payne Fellowship

The Payne Fellowship equips students for careers in the U.S. Foreign Service through funds for graduate studies and internships focused on international development.

  • Margaret Mello

Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship

The Voyager Scholarship awards second- and third-year students who demonstrate financial need and a passion to serve their communities through public service careers, with leadership development opportunities.

  • Maddison Cunningham

Fulbright U.S. Student Program Awards

The Fulbright U.S. Student Awards offer students the opportunity to conduct research, study or teach abroad to foster cross-cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

English Teaching Assistant Award

  • Nathanael Kavenik
    Mongolia
  • Ximena Landeros Bravo
    Italy
  • Annabel Marshall
    Switzerland
  • Paola Vidal-Espinoza
    Brazil

Graduate Degree Award

  • Margaret Harp
    Israel
  • Eseosa Omorogieva
    France

Research Program Award

  • Lucille Knowles
    Denmark
  • Vivienne Muller
    St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • One unnamed recipient

Explore your potential

View all 23 recipients, along with previous awardees, on the UC Davis Prestigious Scholarship Recipients page. Scott Palmer, UC Davis prestigious scholarship advisor, hopes the number of recipients inspires more students to consider applying to these distinguished awards.

“My hope is that students see themselves in these wild super star people,” Palmer said. “I want them to say that person looks like me so I can do this, too!”

To learn more about prestigious scholarship opportunities visit the UC Davis Prestigious Scholarships webpage.