New College Students Win Leading National Scholarships
As the end of the 2016-2017 academic year approaches, several New College of Florida students are furthering their education via some of the country’s most prestigious scholarships.
Fulbright Award
Allya Yourish, a humanities AOC from Orlando, received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia. She is New College’s 85th Fulbright winner.
Yourish is a published poet and an experienced teacher, having worked in the United States and France as a private tutor and in Sarasota as a volunteer at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center. She also worked as a camp counselor, where she launched a camper-produced newspaper, a science fair and an art gallery. She speaks French, Spanish and Hebrew.
In their recommendations, faculty members called Yourish a “born leader” and a “born teacher” who demonstrates “infectious enthusiasm” and a “genuine concern for the plight of women and girls.”
At New College, Yourish was the College’s Silver Scholarship recipient, served as president of Hillel, as a member of the Diversity Committee and an officer of the Model United Nations. She also performed with the Windmill Theatre Company.
After her Fulbright year, Yourish plans to pursue a master’s degree in museum education.
Gilman Scholars
Jennyfer Gonzalez, a third-year student from Kissimmee, was awarded a Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Gonzales received her award in late fall and is currently studying in Chile at Universidad Andres Bello. She also is interning at Villa Crimaldi, a former concentration camp once used for critics of the government. She is conducting research into the history of Chile and other Latin American countries for her senior thesis at New College next year.
Jacob Cooley, a fourth-year student from Tampa graduating this May, also was the recipient of a Gilman Scholarship. Cooley studied last year in Bolivia.
Goldwater Scholars
Caitlyn Ralph and Constance Sartor, both from Orlando, were among just 240 students nationwide – and just six at Florida colleges – to receive Goldwater Scholarships, the country’s top scholarship for undergraduates in science, math and engineering. The awards were announced in April.
The Goldwater Scholarships provide up to $7,500 in tuition support for the student’s college education for one or two years.
Ralph is a third-year computer science AOC (major) who plans to pursue a research career in the field of computational neuroscience. Sartor is a third-year biology and chemistry AOC (major) who plans to pursue a doctorate in biological and ecological engineering or ecology, conduct research on invasive species and eventually start her own ecological engineering research company.
Rangel Scholar
Lizabelt Avila, a third-year student from Miami, has been named a Rangel Scholar for 2017. She will study government and international relations in the Washington D.C. program this summer. The award was announced in April.
At New College, Avila is studying political science and international and area studies. This is her third national award while attending the College; she previously won a Gilman Scholarship and was named a Newman Civic Fellow.