Recent Scholarship Recipients

Brock Keller (BA in International Studies and Environmental Studies) received a Critical Language Scholarship to study Hindi at the American Institute of Indian Studies in Jaipur, India. Keller has spent time overseas as a student and volunteer in Central America, South America, Europe and Africa. He speaks French and Spanish fluently and is competent in Czech.

Zhenhao “Victor” Zhong (BS in Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) received a Goldwater Scholarship in Spring 2022. Zhong’s undergraduate research focuses on isolating the virus-like element related to pathogens that cause Chagas’ disease and sleeping sickness. He plans to obtain a doctorate in molecular virology and conduct research aimed at isolating and mapping viruses to create more effective treatments.

Cyndi Enderle (BA in English and History) received the Freeman-Asia scholarship for study abroad in Thailand. Enderle was also the recipient of a Vandal Promise Scholarship Award, the Phi Beta Kappa Sophomore Award, and the Winkler Memorial Scholarship. She is the founding member of the China Club at UI, and an active participant in Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society.

Peik Lund-Andersen (B.S. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Science) received a Goldwater Scholarship in Spring 2021. Peik is the recipient of several previous awards including the Center for Health in Human Ecosystems Undergraduate Research Award (2021) and Martin, James & Beulah Bioengineering Scholarship (2019). Peik’s research examines animal susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. His work contributes to building a computational pipeline to screen animal ACE2 receptor sequences and predict sequences that are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2.

Nick Pancheri (BS in Biological Engineering, College of Engineering and University Honors Program) received a Goldwater Scholarship in Spring 2021. Nick is a 2020 Beckman Scholar who has also been recognized with a 2019 Gary Dow Distinguished Top Finalist Award and a 2018 INBRE Research Fellowship. Nick’s research examines impacts of mechanical loading on tendon development through regulation of collagen structure. This work informs future clinical treatments of tendon injuries.

Addie White (BS in Biological Engineering, College of Engineering and University Honors Program) earned an Honorable Mention in the Udall Scholarship competition in Spring 2020. Udall Scholarships are awarded to students based on their commitment to careers in the environment, Native health care or tribal public policy; leadership potential; record of public service; and academic achievement. Addie is a former DAAD RISE scholar (2018) and an INBRE Fellow (2019).

Annarose Qualls (BA in International Studies, Spanish, Latin American Studies; College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences and University Honors Program) received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Colombia. The ETA program places Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to local English teachers. Annarose is the recipient of several previous honors and awards including the 2019 University of Idaho Donald R. & Cora E. Theophilus Award.

Elizabeth Hoots (BS in Ecology and Conservation Biology, College of Natural Resources and University Honors Program) received a Goldwater Scholarship in Spring 2020. Beth is a 2018 National Merit Scholar and recipient of the 2019 SURF grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research at the University of Idaho. Beth’s research focuses on the effects of climate change on macroinvertebrates including the lake-dwelling caddisfly Nectopysche albida in Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Isabell Strawn (BS in Biological Engineering, College of Engineering and University Honors Program) received a Goldwater Scholarship in Spring 2020. Isabell is a 2019 Grand Challenge Scholar and a 2017 Engineering Scholar at the University of Idaho. Isabell’s research on bioremediation examines how to enhance microbe viability using hydrogel armors that protect microbes from extreme pH conditions. This work stems from her passion for improving access to clean water across the globe.

Olivia Comstock (BA in Philosophy; College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences and University Honors program) received a Fulbright Open Study/Research award to Germany in 2020. Olivia’s proposed project applies art history and art theory to community engagement via a hands-on research internship at the Museum FLUXUS+ in Germany. Olivia is the recipient of several previous honors and awards including the Francis Seaman Philosophy Scholarship (2016 – 2019).

Michael Bishop (MA in Creative Writing; College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences) received a Fulbright Open Study/Research award to New Zealand in 2020. During his award, Michael proposed to conduct a creative nonfiction project, exploring the geography, inhabitants, history, and future of New Zealand's Mount Taranaki. Michael is the recipient of several previous honors and awards including the 2019 Writing in the Wild Fellowship from the University of Idaho.

Madi Thurston (BS in Environmental Science, College of Natural Resources and University Honors Program) was selected for a DAAD RISE internship in 2020. RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) offers undergraduate students from North American, British, and Irish universities the opportunity to complete a summer research internship at top German universities and research institutions. Madi previously earned an Honorable Mention in the 2019 Udall Scholarship competition and was selected as a Doris Duke Conservation Scholar in 2018.

Mikayla Sievers (MA in English; College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences) received a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship to study Panjabi in India in Spring 2019. The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Mikayla is one of approximately 550 competitively selected American students at U.S. colleges and universities who received a CLS award in 2019.

Jamie Waters (B.S. in Marketing and Marketing Analytics; College of Business & Economics) received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Award to Cambodia in Spring 2019. Jamie also received a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship and a Freeman-ASIA Award in 2018. The ETA Program places Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to local English teachers. Jamie was one of only 2 ETAs selected to Cambodia in the 2019 award cycle.

Kassandra Townsend (B.S. in Ecology & Conservation Biology; College of Natural Resources) earned an Honorable Mention in the Udall Scholarship competition in Spring 2019. Udall Scholarships are awarded to students based on their commitment to careers in the environment, Native health care or tribal public policy; leadership potential; record of public service; and academic achievement. Kassandra is an All Nations Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar, a Doris Duke Conservation Scholar, and a current Ph.D. student at the University of Idaho.

Samuel Myers (BS in Mathematics and Physics; College of Science and University Honors Program) received a Goldwater Scholarship in Spring 2019. Sam is also the recipient of several undergraduate research grants from the Office of Undergraduate Research and the University Honors Program. Sam’s research focuses on planetary formation by way of exoplanets. This work is dedicated to understanding how planets are formed and how their orbits have evolved over time.

Taylor Azizeh (BS in Environmental Science and Wildlife Resources; College of Natural Resources) received a Fulbright Study/Research Award to Denmark in Spring 2019. Taylor previously received a University of Idaho Silver Scholarship (2015-19) and a Study Abroad Scholarship (2017). During her Fulbright grant period Taylor participated in Masters courses at the Arctic Research Center in Denmark and conducted fieldwork at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources in Nuuk, Greenland.