Notre Dame Seniors Earn Prestigious National Fellowships and Scholarships, Showcasing Academic Excellence, Leadership, and Global Commitment to Service

The University of Notre Dame has long prided itself on cultivating scholars whose talents extend far beyond the classroom. This year, several seniors at the university have proven that legacy once again, earning some of the most prestigious fellowships and scholarships awarded across the nation. These accolades are not just indicators of academic excellence—they are a testament to character, leadership, service, and a profound desire to create meaningful global impact.

Among the celebrated recipients are students who have been awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, the Truman Scholarship, and the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford. These programs are among the most competitive in the world, often receiving thousands of applications from the brightest minds across hundreds of institutions. That multiple Notre Dame students have secured places in such distinguished cohorts speaks volumes about the university’s emphasis on holistic education—one that prepares students not only to excel academically but also to lead and serve with compassion and conviction.

One of the most notable honorees is Lucy Cartwright, a political science major from Chicago who has received the prestigious Truman Scholarship. Awarded to students who show exceptional promise for leadership in public service, the Truman Scholarship is known for its rigorous selection process and focus on real-world impact. Cartwright’s work in immigrant justice advocacy and her founding of a student legal aid initiative at Notre Dame stood out to the selection committee. She plans to pursue a law degree and eventually work in immigration policy reform, aiming to amplify the voices of marginalized communities.

Another standout is James Choi, a mechanical engineering senior who was awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. The NSF program supports graduate study in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and is a significant endorsement of a student’s potential for groundbreaking research. Choi has worked on energy efficiency systems and renewable technologies, including solar-powered desalination units aimed at addressing clean water shortages in rural areas. He credits the Notre Dame Center for Sustainable Energy for nurturing his passion and providing invaluable mentorship during his undergraduate years.

Then there is Isabella Martinez, a global affairs and Arabic major, who has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar. Through the Fulbright Program, she will teach English in Jordan while conducting research on refugee education policy. Martinez has spent her Notre Dame career focused on Middle Eastern studies and community engagement, including time with local resettlement agencies helping Syrian and Afghan families navigate public services. She describes the Fulbright as “an opportunity to serve while learning directly from those whose lives have been most affected by conflict and displacement.”

Equally impressive is the journey of Noah Simmons, a philosophy and biology double major who earned a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Simmons is among a select group of scholars worldwide awarded full funding to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. His work lies at the intersection of bioethics and public health. While at Notre Dame, he conducted research on equitable vaccine distribution and interned with the World Health Organization. His Cambridge focus will be on developing frameworks for ethical global health governance, a field he describes as “where science and morality must meet for the betterment of all humanity.”

For many of these students, the road to recognition has been long and filled with commitment to their disciplines and communities. They are not only high academic achievers but also campus leaders, mentors, researchers, and volunteers. According to Jeffrey Thibert, the Paul and Maureen Stefanick Director of the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE) at Notre Dame, this year’s cohort reflects the university’s mission of forming individuals who will become “forces for good in the world.”

Thibert emphasizes that these awards are not simply about prestige. “What makes these awards meaningful is that they align so closely with the values we try to instill in our students. Whether it’s the Fulbright’s focus on cultural diplomacy, the Truman’s emphasis on public service, or the Gates Cambridge’s investment in global problem-solvers, our students are pursuing these opportunities because they reflect deeply held commitments.”

Indeed, many of the recipients have been shaped by experiences both on and off campus. Community-based learning, service trips, undergraduate research, and internships with nonprofits and think tanks have provided platforms for these students to discover their passions and pursue impact-driven goals.

Take the case of Amina El-Sayed, a sociology and peace studies major from Detroit, who earned a place in the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University. This highly selective graduate-level scholarship values both academic talent and civic-minded leadership. El-Sayed’s senior thesis, based on fieldwork in underserved urban schools, examined the link between trauma exposure and academic underperformance. Her participation in the Kellogg International Scholars Program gave her access to global networks and mentorship that shaped her interest in educational justice. She plans to earn a dual degree in education and public policy and envisions launching her own nonprofit focused on school-based mental health interventions.

While each scholar’s path is unique, there are shared traits that run deep among the Notre Dame awardees: humility, a fierce sense of purpose, and a belief in the common good. These are not students motivated by accolades alone. Rather, they are driven by real-world challenges—from environmental crises to refugee integration to healthcare inequality—and a belief that they can, and must, be part of the solution.

Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., praised the awardees, saying, “These students exemplify the very best of what our university seeks to cultivate: a love of learning, an openness to others, and a commitment to using one’s gifts in service to humanity. They are a reminder that scholarship and service need not be separate pursuits—they can, and should, go hand in hand.”

The impact of these achievements also extends to Notre Dame’s younger student body, many of whom now view their peers’ accomplishments as both inspiring and attainable. The university’s CUSE office has reported a rise in fellowship applications in recent years, driven in part by growing awareness of how these opportunities can transform a student’s academic and professional trajectory.

For those applying to future fellowship cycles, the message from this year’s honorees is one of encouragement and authenticity. As Simmons puts it, “These applications ask you to reflect on your values, your goals, and how you plan to serve others. If you approach it as an exercise in being your most honest self, it becomes much more than an application—it becomes a mirror.”

At a time when higher education is often questioned for its relevance and impact, the accomplishments of these Notre Dame seniors offer a compelling counter-narrative. They show what it means to blend intellectual rigor with human empathy. They show how students can emerge from college not just as job-seekers or professionals-in-training, but as principled leaders prepared to confront the world’s hardest problems.

And they remind us that in every era, there are students willing to step forward—not for fame or fortune, but because they believe in justice, in equity, in peace, and in the power of knowledge to bring them closer.

As they prepare to graduate and embark on journeys that will take them across the country and around the globe, the Notre Dame community celebrates not just their awards but the larger message they carry: that excellence and service are not mutually exclusive, but mutually reinforcing. These seniors have embodied that message, and in doing so, have made their alma mater proud—now, and for many years to come.