National Scholarship Competition Nominees and Winners

Illinois State is proud of the students who were nominated for or awarded the following prestigious scholarships.

Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship
Fulbright Student Scholarship
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
Harry S. Truman Scholarship
Morris K. Udall Scholarship

Fulbright Student Scholarship

These awards offer full support for a year of study or teaching in a foreign country following completion of a bachelor’s degree. Research Fulbrights require a plan of study or research; Fulbrights in the creative or performing arts require documented artistic achievement; Fulbright teaching assistantships require an interest and ability in working with adolescent students as well as a project or activity to pursue in the selected country. The main purpose of the Fulbright is to increase a mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills.

Fulbright Scholar 2009-2010

Fulbright Scholar, 2008-2009

Additional 2008 Nominees

  • Carey Applegate, PhD program in English Studies, applied to New Zealand
  • Emily Koller, Masters program in Social Work, applied to Malaysia
  • James MacNaughton, Masters program in Historical Archeology, applied to United Kingdom

Fulbright Scholar, 2007-2008

Fulbright Scholar Alternates, 2007-2008

Additional 2007 Nominees

  • Jessica Brinton, Graduating Senior, English Teaching Assistantship, Turkey
  • Michelle Hill, Graduating Senior, English Teaching Assistantship, Spain

Fulbright Scholars, 2006-2007

Additional 2006 Nominees

  • Mike Hart ’05, Mass Communication, applied to Hong Kong
  • David Retzer '06, Anthropology, applied to Japan

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

This award is for sophomores or juniors majoring in mathematics or the sciences who intend to pursue graduate study leading to a Ph.D. and a career in research or engineering. It provides support for undergraduate tuition in the last one or two years, in expectation that the scholarship will help the student qualify for the best graduate programs.

2009 Award Recipient

  • Emily Gospodarczyk, junior, Physics

2008 Award Recipient

2007 Nominees

  • James Barr, junior, Applied Computer Science
  • Patrice Baumhardt, sophomore, Biological Sciences, Honorable Mention
  • Kristin Geary, sophomore, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
  • Nathan Kidwell, sophomore, Physics

2006 Nominee

  • Alison O’Connell, sophomore, Physics Engineering

2005 Honorable Mention Award Recipients

Harry S. Truman Scholarship

This award provides support for graduate school for students preparing for careers in public service. Criteria for selection of finalists include extensive community service and government involvement, leadership abilities and potential, academic performance, and suitability of nominee’s proposed program of study for a career in public service. Winners must be employed in public service for three of seven years following the completion of a graduate degree. Applications must be made in the junior year.

2008 Nominee

  • Tyler Clark, junior, History and Political Science

2007 Nominees

  • Jason Wallace, junior, Political Science, Finalist
  • Amanda Conley, junior, Political Science

2006 Nominee

  • Lisa Manus, junior, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

Morris K. Udall Scholarship

This award provides significant assistance with tuition, fees, books, and room and board for sophomores or juniors who have outstanding potential and a commitment to improving or preserving the environment, and who study the environment and related fields. Selection is made based on academic achievements, personal characteristics, essay based on one of Morris K. Udall’s public speeches, legislative acts, or public policy statements and its impact on the nominee’s field of interest and career goals.

2009 Honorable Mention

  • Kelly Schneider, junior, Agriculture

2009 Nominees

  • Phil Ferguson, junior, Geography
  • Amanda Landers, sophomore, Environmental Health

2007 Nominee

  • Pahroul Dave, junior, Environmental Health

2006 Nominee

  • Eileen Bader, junior, Biological Sciences

2005 Udall Scholarships Recipients

Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will award approximately 65 scholarships to seniors and recent graduates planning to attend graduate school for the first time starting in the fall.   Each award covers a portion of educational expenses, including tuition, living expenses, required fees, and books for the graduate degree chosen; the amount varies depending on the cost of attendance and the length of the graduate program as well as other scholarships or grants received.

2006 Nominees

  • Marion Archer, senior, History major, Art History minor
  • Jehu Strange, senior, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology & Chemistry