The University of South Dakota

Nationally competitive scholarships are often hard to win, however, students from USD win one or more of these competitions virtually every year.  Each scholarship is nationally competitive.  Recipients are chosen based on essays, recommendations, GPA and other factors.  Standards are very high. 

In 2009, five scholars captured these hard-to-land awards:

	Zach Crago, a 2009 graduate in economics and political science from Sioux Falls, S.D., received a grant from the Fulbright Program - the flagship international education exchange sponsored by the U.S. government. Crago will use his research grant to conduct econometric research to assess the impact of recent land reform policies on food security in Venezuela.
	Heather Fluit, a junior in political science from Sioux Falls, S.D., was named The U's 13th Harry S. Truman Scholarship recipient, earning $30,000 to use for graduate study. The Truman scholarship recognizes college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service.While she's not sure where she will attend graduate school, Fluit is looking forward to a career as a foreign services officer.
	Winnie Zou, a chemistry major from Vermillion, S.D., is The U's 10th recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship. Nominated by the faculty of colleges and universities nationwide, the Goldwater Scholarship is the premier scholarship in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.  When Zou completes her undergraduate degree, she has her sights set on earning an M.D./Ph.D. to conduct basic biomedical research.
	Jane Gullickson, a 2009 graduate in political science and journalism from Brandon, S.D., received the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship.  Designed to bridge cultures and encourage goodwill, it is one of Rotary's leading efforts to promote world peace and understanding. She will study at Southern Cross University in Lismore, Australia, beginning in February 2010 and hopes to earn a graduate certificate in health leadership administration during her year of study.
	Brittany Neiles, a 2009 graduate in education from Sioux Falls, was the first USD undergraduate to win the James Madison Memorial Fellowship - an award for teachers or students who plan to teach history or government at the secondary education level.  Neiles plans to use it toward a master's degree at the University of Vermont.