National Scholarships and Fellowships

Austin Borreson

Major: German and International Studies  

Hometown: Elk River, MN

Mentor: Thyra Knapp

How did you hear about your scholarship and what inspired you to apply for it?

I heard about the Scholarship from Dr. Knapp, and I was inspired to apply because I heard such great things about the experience.

What was the application process like? Time intensive? Did you get discouraged? Who helped you get through it?

The application process was quite involved. How time intensive it is depends on when you start and how diligent you are at working on it. For 3-4 weeks before the UND deadline, I was mostly just writing draft after draft and meeting with my mentor/ those who would write recommendations for me. I think I had about 10 drafts of both essays by the end. I got discouraged quite often actually, but I think I learned from trying to apply to the Boren Scholarship that I couldn't talk myself out of applying to something because I didn't think I was qualified. If I never apply, I'd always wonder if I could have made it. I was up against some very strong candidates, and it was intimidating. I cannot thank Joan and Dr. Knapp for the support they gave me and helping me get through the thoughts of not being qualified.

Is there anything you would do differently? 

I would not have expected so much from the scholarship in all honesty. My expectations of the program were extremely high before I went, and that was simply unrealistic. The opportunity is exceptional, but like anything in life, an experience is never going to be perfect.

What do you think gave your application an edge?

The main thing that gave my application an edge was the narrative I wrote in my essays. They weren't simply a list of what I've done and so on. That idea was recommended by Dr. Knapp  and Joan. Going along with this, I think my extensive experience abroad also gave me an edge as well.

How has earning this scholarship award impacted your life?

The scholarship has impacted my life by opening up more questions than answers, which may not sound good, I but I see it as a good thing. My eyes have been opened to new fields and things that interest me, and I want to search through everything to figure out what I actually want to do instead of rushing into something.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking of applying?

Don't let your inner saboteur become your enemy. If you let the saboteur win, not applying may always be something you look back on and say "What if?” My other piece of advice would be to not elevate your expectations of the scholarship to unrealistic levels. It is good to be excited for the experience, but the experience might not be perfect, because there will be ups and downs.

Cecelia Castleberry

Major: Molecular and Integrative Biology

Hometown: Easton, MD

Mentor: Kathryn Yurkonis

How did you hear about your scholarship and what inspired you to apply for it?

Through my father, he was looking for internships close to Maryland.

What was the application process like? Time intensive? Did you get discouraged? Who helped you get through it?

Application was very rushed and time consuming.

Is there anything you would do differently? 

No.

What do you think gave your application an edge?

My desire to learn and the skills I already had.

How has earning this scholarship award impacted your life?

I was introduced to my future career and the impact it can make on others.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking of applying?

Email the people in charge directly if you have questions, because communication was difficult.

Ryan Gilbertson

Major: Political Science and Economics

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Mentor: Mac Schneider and Mark Jendrysik 

How did you hear about your scholarship and what inspired you to apply for it?

Dr. Sum told me about the scholarship when I was touring UND my senior year in high school. Dr. Jendrysik inspired me to start applying.

Is there anything you would do differently? 

No

How has applying for this scholarship award impacted your life?

Helped me define my path post college.

Ashly Hanna 

Major: American Indian Studies and Criminal Justice

Hometown: Longmont, CO 

Mentor: Wendelin Hume and Birgit Hans  

How did you hear about your scholarship and what inspired you to apply for it?

I heard about the scholarship program in Dr. Yee Han Chu’s scholarship class during spring of 2019. I told her I was interested in the Udall scholarship and she motivated me greatly to fill out the prestigious scholarship. I wanted to quit several times but she saw potential in me and kept me working. Yee Han inspired me to start applying. She knew I was crazy busy directing Time Out Week for Indian Studies Association and dedicated to my studies, but reminded me of the opportunity that this scholarship would open up for me.

Is there anything you would do differently? 

No.

How has earning this scholarship award impacted your life?

The scholarship welcomed 55 amazing scholars from around the United States that are just as passionate about help out others and the planet as I am. Despite the tedious application, the Udall family I have earned and been honored with means so much more.

 Merrick McMahon

Major: Biology Pre-Med

Hometown: Minot, ND

Mentor: Keith Malaterre

How did you hear about your scholarship and what inspired you to apply for it?

I heard about the scholarship from my family, and I applied to the Cobell due to my strong Native American background. 

What was the application process like?  Time intensive?  Did you get discouraged?  Who helped you get through it?

The application was rather difficult and time consuming. It presents very open ended questions, so you had to put a lot of a thought into how you answered each question. Plus you need to revisit, revise, and critique each answer along the way. I was greatly discouraged, but with help I finally pushed through to finish the application. Keith Malaterre ultimately helped me get through the process. He is very helpful when it comes to assisting culturally diverse students with any requests they may have.

Is there anything you would do differently? 

I would strongly emphasize more of my leadership skills on applications since most competitive scholarships are looking for strong leaders.

What do you think gave your application an edge?

I feel my strong ambition to reform the Indian health service (IHS) gave me quite the edge. Due to the few number of health care providers near reservations, Native Americans often have no choice but to go to IHS hospitals for their care. Since IHS hospitals and clinics are often the only health care providers that Native American communities have close by and can afford, this creates almost a monopoly effect and the quality of care goes down. 

How has earning this scholarship award impacted your life?

Earning this scholarship was quite the achievement, because it tells me I have the intellectual potential to earn the scholarship despite not receiving the award.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking of applying?

If you are a highly ambitious Native American student, I suggest that you write about your dreams and aspirations for Native American communities. No matter how impossible they may seem to achieve just keep writing and you will figure strategies to achieve those ambitions. Remember dreams can actually become reality!!! However, they will only remain dreams unless you decide to take the action and put in the effort to make them come true!

 Michelle Nguyen

Major: Political Science and Economics

Hometown: Eden Prairie, MN 

Mentor: Dr. Yee Han Chu 

How did you hear about your scholarship and what inspired you to apply for it?

I heard about Scholarship America's Dream Award from Dr. Chu and social media. I was inspired to apply for it because I was able to learn a lot about the non-profit through their Youtube videos and website. 

What was the application process like?  Time intensive?  Did you get discouraged?  Who helped you get through it?

The application asked very straightforward questions, a few essay questions, and recommendation letter section. Everything was online. In the first round, the application required answers to questions and a few essay questions. After a few months, I was notified of making semi-finals. In the semi-final round, I was asked to submit additional information such as recommendation letters. It was easy to feel discouraged during the waiting periods, because we did not know how many other students we were competing against and how many spots were open. Later at the gala, we had figured out that there were ~7000 applicants and ~100 made semi-finals. 22 of us made nationals and received the award. 

Is there anything you would do differently? 

No. It was one of my first scholarships I spent a few weeks working on. It challenged me more than most to wait for a response; however, I wouldn't trade that for the world. 

What do you think gave your application an edge?

I answered the questions truthfully and to the best of my abilities. It was a thorough process so I asked for recommendation letters from people who I thought knew me best academically, professionally, and athletically. I think that Scholarship America truly allowed me to show them what I had accomplished and what I was working to accomplish. 

How has earning this scholarship award impacted your life?

This scholarship has helped me gain confidence in my accomplishments as well as my failures. It has helped me realize that there are SO many other students going through similar situations. We keep to ourselves with our struggles and that's what makes graduating so worthwhile. I was able to meet other scholars in June 2019 and was in tears leaving them. Each scholar had overcome significant barriers and was so supportive of each other. Scholarship America also allowed me to get involved in D.C. I was able to do an "Instagram Takeover" of our Student Day which was so much fun! 

What advice would you give someone who is thinking of applying?

I would advise someone to be truthful and be confident in their abilities. I think it was very important for students to form connections with their mentors, professors, and employers. Everyone has their own story and no one else is exactly like you. I took one of the biggest leaps of faith and it turned out to be the best decisions I've made in college. Just apply because you never know until you try! 

 Joel Runnels

Major: Educational Foundations and Research (PhD Research Track) 

Hometown: Bloomington, MN

Mentor: Marcus Weaver-Hightower 

How did you hear about your scholarship and what inspired you to apply for it?

I discovered the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) while doing a cyber search for language learning scholarships. I wanted to build on my linguistic and cultural understanding of East Africans (including those in the Upper Midwest). While I reviewed other similar scholarships, such as the Boren, CLS appeared at “best fit” for me, so I went for it!

What was the application process like? Time intensive? Did you get discouraged? Who helped you get through it?

The CLS application process was fairly arduous, in that it required submission of a series of essays (i.e., personal statement, etc.) from my corner, as well as supporting letters from University of North Dakota (UND) colleagues. To turn around a competitive application, I budgeted a couple of months to: 1) draft essays and supporting letter (I prepared discussion points for my references to review and revise into a final draft), 2) share with proofreaders for critique, 3) edit and revise for final draft submission. 

Is there anything you would do differently? 

No.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking of applying?

I recommend that when applicants look for a scholarship that is a possible match that they start with a critical review of the eligibility section then work their way up. It’s akin to a job search. If you are not a competitive candidate, no need to apply.  However, when you do decide to apply, do it in a timely fashion (preferably not two to three days before the due date).

 Curtis Longtime Sleeping

Major: Communication

Hometown: Browning, MT

Mentor: Joan Hawthorne 

How did you hear about your scholarship and what inspired you to apply for it?

One afternoon of June 2015 I brought some bridge program students to a resource fair. As I had completed my second year at UND in May I was already quite familiar with most of the resources, but this time I found myself keenly listening to the study abroad representatives. In the past I had brushed it off as something I that was not in the cards for me because it just wasn’t financially feasible and I had never heard of anyone from my background (Blackfeet) doing such a thing before.  After I went home that day I decided to do Google “study abroad scholarships,” and spent the next couple of hours reading up on my options. On that day I came across the Gilman International Scholarship, Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), and the Fulbright Grant programs.

What was the application process like?  Time intensive?  Did you get discouraged?  Who helped you get through it?

All of the applications involve getting recommendations and endorsements from academic/study abroad advisors, sending digital and/or physical  (OFFICIAL) copies of your transcripts, and writing two or more essays. The Gilman application and essay prompts were the easiest by far as the goal of the scholarship is the get more individuals from under represented backgrounds studying abroad. Whereas CLS and the Fulbright Grants essay prompts require applicants to thoroughly explain their purpose for applying in a limited space. For both the CLS & Fulbright prompts, I wished I was allowed to write more.

Is there anything you would do differently?

I would plan at least one year in advance so that I could have saved up money for recreational excursions. Unfortunately, I had just enough money to be abroad (Nagasaki, Japan) with the help of the Gilman on my first venture.

What do you think gave your application an edge?

I knew why I wanted the scholarship, and with a little advising I was able to effectively express what kind of impact would be made on my life and the communities that I am affiliated with. No one wants to give money out to people who only care about themselves and no one wants to give money to someone who is writing an essay purely about the “cultural experience.” It’s a given that you will be immersed in a new culture, but what is that going to do for you and others? You have to express how your individual success will also inspire change or growth in others.

How has earning this scholarship award impacted your life?

I am doing things that no one from my background has ever considered or thought possible for us. I am on my third adventure with the help of the Fulbright ETA grant, and I am not planning on stopping any time soon.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking of applying?

Seek out advice from as many people as you can. Ask them what they think about pursuing such an experience? If they or anyone they know has a similar experience (you will be surprised). If you have family members who not exactly thrilled about the idea of you going abroad, just keep casually dropping it by them and talk about the benefits such an experience will have for you. Some of your family will come