The weather outside, and the academic calendar, tell us that the spring semester has come to a close and, while summer is still officially a few weeks away, it’s time to celebrate the end of this academic year. We are sending our biggest congratulations to all those who will grace the stage this week for commencement and wishing everyone rest, adventure, time and whatever other luxuries the summer has in-store for you.
For our recent grads and continuing students alike, we wish to remind you that OSDFA remains available throughout the summer to help those who are ready to explore awards and opportunities, actively applying and / or planning ahead. Continue on for some end of year celebrations, and a sense of what’s to come this summer.
Gilman Scholarship Recipients
Please join us in congratulating the 7 students who have been named recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship for the March 2025 application cycle. The Gilman Scholarship provides up to $5,000 of funding for Pell-recipient undergraduate students to use towards any credited study abroad trip. This spring, we saw increases in the number of applicants from last spring (3 vs 17), and our largest group of named awardees to date. This spring, our 7 selected students represent an astonishing 41% acceptance rate. Please congratulate:
QueenTeja Cooper - Ghana
Julia Serrano - Italy
Jenna Ahmed - United Kingdom, Hungary
Nandini Doddi - United Kingdom, Hungary
Islijah Estrella Hernandez - United Kingdom, Hungary
David Parr - Ireland
Tiffany Chan - United Kingdom
Amaya Solar named PBK Key into Public Service Scholarship Recipient
We are thrilled to share that Amaya Solar (CCAS ‘27) is one of 20 outstanding national student leaders selected for Phi Beta Kappa's Key into Public Service scholarship program. As part of her selection, Amaya will receive a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship and participate in a conference that provides training, mentoring, and reflection on pathways into local, state, and federal government careers. Amaya was chosen from over 800 applicants attending Phi Beta Kappa chapter institutions across the nation and, in her time at Rutgers - Camden, has already demonstrated her impact both on campus and beyond. With majors in Political Science and Urban Studies, Amaya aspires to a career in government addressing inequality through policy reforms in housing, education, and economic development. At the start of this year, Amaya was also recognized as the first Rutgers - Camden student to participate in the selective Public Policy and Leadership Conference at Harvard. As she heads into her junior year, we are excited to see what else Amaya will achieve.
Apply now for OSDFA Fellows:
OSDFA is excited to announce that we will be leading a reimagined version of our 2024-2025 ‘Scarlet Scholars’ cohort next academic year called ‘OSDFA Fellows’! OSDFA Fellows is a cohort program designed for sophomores to maximize their experience at Rutgers-Camden and set & achieve their goals! Our monthly sessions will encompass a variety of topics, speakers, and activities, and will equip fellows with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary for applying to national award opportunities, such as the Gilman Scholarship, the Critical Language Scholarship, the Truman Scholarship, the Fulbright US Student Program, and more! Fellows will learn how to effectively write about themselves & their experiences, and leverage their strengths throughout the application process.
Interested students can apply here; applications are accepted on a rolling basis with a hard deadline of Sunday, July 6th. After our deadline has passed, selected students will be asked to join us for a follow-up conversation to determine fit and next steps.
We hope you’ll consider applying and can’t wait to work with you!
Registration open for an evening with alumna & Schwarzman Scholar, Tania Martinez:
Join OSDFA on Wednesday, June 4 at 5pm for a special (virtual) event featuring Tania Martinez (CCAS '22) who was named Rutgers Camden's first Schwarzman Scholar earlier this year. During this session, Tania will share how her experiences at Rutgers - Camden helped prepare her for her professional roles and eventually led her to apply and be selected as Schwarzman Scholar, where she will complete a funded 1-year Master's degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing China. Also on hand for this event will be Schwarzman Scholarship outreach associate, Sarah Fischer, and OSDFA staff members with info for interested applicants.
Visit this link to register: https://connect.schwarzmanscholars.org/register/?id=348f23c8-58cb-46b8-b800-7caaa29509ff
OSDFA Summer Availability
While the summer definitely brings a more relaxed vibe to campus, OSDFA will still be working all summer supporting students and alumni who are actively preparing applications and/or interested in exploring options long-term.
Throughout the summer, we’ll be supporting those applying to the Fulbright US Student Program, an incredible post-undergraduate experience where you have an opportunity to spend an average of 8-11 months in your choice of more than 140 countries engaging in your choice of research, teaching English, or pursuing graduate study. This program, open to all US Citizens who have or will have a bachelor's degree as of their program start date, has NO minimum GPA requirement, no age restrictions and ALL fields of study are welcome. Curious individuals with a commitment to mutual cultural exchange are ideal. Rutgers - Camden has an incredibly supportive process for those interested in learning more; from exploring the opportunity that is best for you to navigating the application, reviewing draft statements, collecting letters of recommendation and more - we are part of your team from start to finish. Contact us today to learn more & get started. Note, campus priority deadline is Aug 15, with a final deadline of Aug 30th.
In addition to Fulbright, several other awards will open over the summer months with early Fall deadlines. For these, and other, opportunities we strongly encourage potential applicants to meet with us early to determine eligibility, fit, and get started on your application.
To connect with Laura and Jordan, please use the following links:
Schedule in Navigate:
Email us:
Awards to Consider:
Fulbright US Student Program: Applications open; campus due date Aug; national deadline Oct
Schwarzman Scholars: Applications open; Due September
PD Soros Fellowship for New Americans: Applications open; Due October
Public Policy Leadership Conference: Applications open; Due July
Marshall Scholarship: Opens June, Due September
Rhodes Scholarship: Opens July, Due September
To get started with these awards and more, please submit this brief interest form