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The 2012–2013 academic year saw an exciting number of University of Minnesota students—many of them in the University Honors Program—winning nationally and internationally competitive scholarships. Among the most prestigious scholarships awarded to UHP students this year were the Harry S. Truman Scholarship and Udall Scholarship—congratulations, everyone!

Marissa Kramer (left) won both the Gilman and Udall scholarships, and Katrina Klett (right) won the Udall and Truman scholarships. Photo by Patrick O'Leary for University Relations.

Astronaut Scholarships

• Daniel Boman, Mechanical Engineering
• Paige Voigt, Biomedical Engineering

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange

• Michael Demianiuk, History

Critical Language Scholarships

• Alicia Nelson, Sociology (Korean)

DAAD Summer Research Internships in Science and Engineering

• Alexander Hron, Biochemistry and Chemistry
• Maxwell Shinn, Neuroscience and Mathematics

Fulbright UK Summer Institutes

• Anna Courchaine, Graphic Design (Scotland)

Gilman Scholarships (for study abroad)

• Myra Burnette, History (Turkey)
• David Deal, Journalism (Denmark)
• Aletha Duchene, Spanish/Portuguese (Venezuela)
• Tasha Ezell, Art History (Turkey)
• Gabe Franta, Genetics, Cell Biology, & Development (Ecuador)
• Anna Haynes, Biochemistry (Chile)
• Song Her, Family Social Science (India)
• Audra Huffmeyer Fisheries & Wildlife (Nepal)
• Brittney Johnson, Applied Plant Science (Senegal)
• Marissa Kramer, Political Science (Hungary)
• Ky Krawczeski, Asian Languages & Literatures (Japan)
• Aleah Laughlin, Global Studies (Venezuela)
• Nicholas Leach, Urban Studies (Spain)
• Mark Magelssen, Finance (Italy)
• Justin Moen, Mathematics (Hong Kong)
• Mee Pha, Sociology (Japan)
• Khaleel Qandeel, Global Studies (Venezuela)
• Scott Smith, Global Studies and Philosophy (China)
• Katie Strand, Global Studies (Senegal)
• Nadine Teisberg, Global Studies (Jorsan)
• Pashie Vang (Japan)
• Samantha Walsh, Global Studies and Political Science (Jordan)

Goldwater Scholarships

• Daniel Boman, Mechanizal Engineering
• Karen Leopold, Biochemistry and Genetics
• Maxwell Shinn, Neuroscience and Mathematics

NanoJapan International Research Experience for Undergraduates

• Alec Nicol, Chemistry & Biochemistry

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

• Lucas Caretta, Materials Science
• Paul Carlson, Chemical Engineering
• Ross Kerner, Materials Science
• Sam Schreiner, Aerospace Engineering

Truman Scholarship

• Katrina Klett, Asian Languages and Literature: Chinese

Udall Scholarships

• Katrina Klett, Asian Languages & Literatures/Chinese
• Marissa Kramer, Political Science

Two UHP students—Karl Lafleur (graduating senior, biomedical engineering) and Eitan Rogin (graduating senior, computer science)—were part of a research group led by Professor Bin He (biomedical engineering) that has developed a new noninvasive system that allows people to control a flying robot with nothing but their minds.

The study, which could potentially help people with paralysis and neurodegenerative diseases, was published in Journal of Neural Engineering.

For more information, see the press release or feature story from the University News Service.

Contact: Daniel Wolter, University News Service, wolter@umn.edu, (612) 624-5551

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (12/09/2010) --University of Minnesota Provost Tom Sullivan today reported that the Fall 2010 freshman class in the university's young campus-wide Honors Program was one of the best in the nation.

"Just a few years ago, when we launched our campus-wide Honors Program, it was our goal to be able to compete with the best colleges and universities in the country for the best and brightest students in Minnesota and from around the world," said Sullivan. "In just its third year, that goal is a reality. The profile of the 2010 freshman Honors class puts us at or near the top among our peers, which is wonderful news for the university and the state of Minnesota."

With an average ACT composite score of 31.6, the U of M's freshman honors class is at the top of a distinguished group of peer liberal arts institutions, which includes Carleton, Amherst, Williams, Grinnell, Vassar and Macalester. It also puts the U third among peer universities, behind Stanford and Northwestern Universities and ahead of Duke, Carnegie Mellon, the University of Chicago and Georgetown University.

Among peer STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) universities, the U of M's 33.5 average ACT composite tied with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), put it a half a point behind the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and ahead of Cornell, Carnegie Mellon and Georgia Tech.

"A top research university has many outstanding qualities. Among the most important is the ability to attract exceptional and talented students," Sullivan added. "The improvements and investments we've made in our Honors Program and to our overall undergraduate experience at the University of Minnesota is really paying off."

(The comparisons cited above are University of Minnesota Honors Program students compared to the incoming freshman classes of peer institutions.)

Six honors students were named winners of 2010 Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Awards. These awards, given by the Office of Equity and Diversity, honor high-achieving diverse undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who are doing outstanding work at the University, both in and out of the classroom. Congratulations! 

President's SEED Award for Outstanding Scholar-Activism:
Damé Idossa

President's SEED Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement:
Yefei Jin

Sue W. Hancock Undergraduate SEEDs of Change Awards:
Amanda Donohue-Hansen
Karlo A. Malaga
Jennifer A. Nicklay
Brea D. Turner  

Learn more about the SEED Awards.

Honors mechanical engineering student Stephanie Zastrow was recently named a Tau Peta Pi 2010 Laureate. Congratulations Stephanie!

Full coverage (via the College of Science and Engineering)

Ashley Lynne Nord, a senior summa cum laude candidate majoring in Global Studies, Physics, and Astrophysics, has been named one of 32 Rhodes Scholars for 2008. Congratulations Ashley!

More info:
UMNews press release
An interview with Ashley

UPDATE (9/15/2010) Read about Ashley's first year at Oxford. (From the College of Science and Engineering)