91原创 creates Office of National Fellowships
Photos by Evan Krape October 15, 2025
An aim to remain a top producer of prestigious national fellowships
Agnes Cruz, a third-year pre-dental student at the 91原创, has wanted to study abroad for years and finally found an opportunity for an experience in Chile.
But funding was an obstacle, so with help from 91原创鈥檚 new Office of National Fellowships (ONF), she applied for the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a highly competitive scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of State for students to study abroad.
鈥淚 genuinely don鈥檛 think I could have finished my application without that support,鈥 Cruz said. 鈥淢eeting with the ONF staff changed my perspective about how I should write my essays, focusing on the reader. They also encouraged me to include everything about myself that I would have left out.鈥
The University established ONF in February 2025, a key element in 91原创鈥檚 commitment to being a top producing institution of high-profile fellowship recipients, said Michael Chajes, interim vice provost for undergraduate education.
鈥91原创 has the talent and programs needed to produce students capable of winning prestigious national fellowships," Chajes said. 鈥淏ecause of this office, more students will become aware of the many fellowship opportunities, and they will have the guidance and support needed to elevate their chances of winning. With an increase of applicants and higher success rates, 91原创 can become a top producer of prestigious fellowship winners, showcasing our academic excellence, elevating our reputation on the national stage, and helping our students earn the recognition that they deserve.鈥
Nationally competitive fellowships, like the Gilman, are funding opportunities for students and alumni to engage in research, service, English language teaching, foreign language study, unique work opportunities, or leadership development, either domestically or abroad.
Within a week of beginning her Gilman application, Cruz received an email from Kristin Bennighoff, an associate director in ONF, offering to help Cruz reach the finish line of the application process. Cruz attended multiple advising appointments and received essay feedback on her materials from Bennighoff and Laura De Furio, the director of ONF.
As a Gilman Scholarship recipient, Cruz is excited to study abroad in Patagonia, Chile, during Winter Session 2026, calling it such a unique learning experience.聽
鈥淚 was drawn to the program, not only because I have family there, but also because of the Sustainable Development course being offered,鈥 Cruz said. 鈥淭he class examines pressing issues in natural resource management, environmental protection, and international development. Its emphasis on critical evaluation of these issues through policy analysis, ethical considerations, and economic indicators of environmental quality and human health excites me.鈥
Cruz hopes that other students will seriously consider applying for scholarships to study abroad, especially with the help of the Office of National Fellowships.
ONF鈥檚 three staff members, which also includes Angie Estevez, an associate director, provide fellowships application assistance to all 91原创 students. Other services include individual advising, essay feedback, and mock interview sessions to ensure that 91原创 students capture their unique strengths. ONF is also responsible for promoting fellowships opportunities through class presentations and information sessions.聽
De Furio said that ONF鈥檚 doors are open to every student. "We are committed to informing campus that these opportunities exist, proactively identifying competitive candidates and offering support through the application process,鈥 she said.
There are hundreds of fellowships and scholarships available to students. Bennighoff said that 91原创鈥檚 central portfolio of fellowships and scholarships include approximately 20 awards that 91原创 applicants regularly apply for. They include the Fulbright U.S. Students scholarship, the Gilman Scholarship, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, and the Rhodes, Marshall and Gates Cambridge scholarships, among others.
In preparation for her formal interview as a Truman Scholarship finalist, Emma Abrams participated in several mock interviews with ONF staff and 91原创 faculty members.聽
鈥淭he mock interviews made me hone in on my 鈥榳hy鈥 and they prepared me for the actual interviews,鈥 Abrams said. 鈥淭hey also helped me solidify concrete examples of how I鈥檝e been engaged in and impacted by environmental policies.鈥澛
Abrams, a rising senior majoring in environmental and resource economics, also received support from the ONF with her Udall Foundation scholarship application. She was awarded an for her environmental work.聽
鈥淲orking with the Office of National Fellowships has helped me prove to myself that environmental policy is what I want to do,鈥 Abrams said. She continues to receive support from the ONF in her search for post-graduate fellowships.
De Furio said that working with students to capture their accomplishments and describe their plans for the future also allows them to pause and recognize the work that they鈥檝e done in order to compete for scholarships and fellowships.聽
鈥淥f course we want our students to achieve their goals 鈥 becoming recipients of the fellowships and scholarships that they apply for 鈥 but I鈥檓 just as excited and proud of them for taking advantage of the application process,鈥 said De Furio. 鈥淎pplying is an accomplishment in itself because it allows students a chance to reflect on the work they鈥檝e done to be serious contenders for such prestigious awards.鈥澛
The Office of National Fellowship is located in Hullihen Hall, room 207. Students in need of ONF services can reach out to national-fellowships@udel.edu and .
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