University of South Carolina students are getting hands-on experience this summer, thanks to national fellowships. Undergraduates across academic disciplines have received funding to participate in personal, professional and educational programs across the globe.
Why it matters: Beyond the classroom experiences allow students to explore new possibilities for their learning and better understand the impact of their education in the real world. Summer programs supported by national fellowships provide students with both the structure and the funding to participate in these kinds of experiences.
What they’re doing:
- AEI Summer Honors Program
Political science major Blakely Hardin (’24) and history major Emily Rabon (’25) will be heading to Washington, D.C. to complete a seminar in public policy hosted by the think tank American Enterprise Institution. - Fulbright UK Summer Institute
Richie Holmberg (’24) is a BARSC major with a special interest in food policy. He will be traveling to Wales to explore environment, food and agriculture with the Fulbright UK Summer Institute, which offers three-to-four week programs for students with limited experience abroad. - Mayo Clinic SURF Program
Biochemistry and molecular biology major Emma Mason (’24) is the first South Carolina student to be selected for the Mayo Clinic’s program for summer undergraduate research. She is working at the Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville Beach, Fla. campus, studying the disease mechanisms involved with ALS. - Project GO
This DoD initiative promotes critical language education and intercultural dialogue opportunities for ROTC students. Six UofSC students received this scholarship, including history major Benjamin Goff (’25) and chemical engineering major Trevor Corsello ('24). Goff will travel to Taiwan to study Mandarin at a program run by the Citadel, and Corsello is currently in Amman studying Arabic.
“This is an excellent opportunity to network, learn from a distinguished professor and scholar and critically think about America’s most pressing issues,” says Rabon, explaining the unique benefits of being an AEI scholar.
Regardless of the program, these fellowships provide students with the opportunity to explore their interests in a new light and return to campus in the fall with new experiences and perspectives.
Students who are interested in pursuing summer fellowship opportunities are encouraged to connect with National Fellowships and Scholar Programs for advising and support.