Four of the nine UAH recipients of national scholarships and fellowships in the spring 2025 semester stand beside their advisor on the lawn in front of Frank Franz Hall, home of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Honors College, on June 30, 2025. Jennifer Staton, Senior Fellowship and Graduate School advisor and part-time faculty in the Honors College, stands in the middle. Flanking her are, left to right, awardees Caroline Bendickson, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program; Emily Bethea, Japan Exchange and Teaching Program; Jaelyn Longino, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, and Brian Niswonger, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals.
Michael Mercier | UAH
Nine undergraduate and graduate students at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) received national scholarships and fellowships during the spring 2025 semester. Two students were also recognized with honorable mentions in this competitive process. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System.
“I am very happy to announce that we had a good scholarship application cycle,” said Jennifer Staton, Senior Fellowship and Graduate School advisor and part-time faculty in the Honors College. “We have two National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awardees – the first time we’ve had multiple recipients – as well as two NSF GRFP honorable mentions. I am immensely proud of all of our students who submitted scholarship applications this year.”
In another first for UAH, she noted, “We have three Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Spark awardees.” Previously, UAH had only one CLS Spark winner.
Kaitlin Wong won a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Spark award in the spring 2025 semester.
Courtesy Kaitlin Wong
Two Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) recipients, one Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program recipient and one National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship recipient round out the year’s prestigious awards.
Each student is listed with their class status at UAH during the spring 2025 semester when they received the awards.
Caroline Bendickson, a senior majoring in biological science and chemistry, and Emily “Ema” Gothro, a doctoral candidate studying biotechnology science and engineering, both received an NSF GRFP. Bendickson graduated from UAH in spring 2025.
This program supports “the quality, vitality, and strength of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States,” according to the website. “The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000.”
Nicole Stark, a senior chemistry major, and Stephanie Manasterski, a master’s student majoring in aerospace systems engineering, were named to the NSF GRFP Honorable Mention list.
The CLS Program gives U.S. students the opportunity “to learn languages of strategic importance to the United States’ national security, economic prosperity, and engagement with the world,” notes the website. The CLS Spark initiative “allows students to have immersive language and cultural experiences with international communities” while learning online.
Kaitlin Wong, an Honors junior majoring in computer science, will study Mandarin. Katelyn Carr, a senior/JUMP student majoring in industrial and systems engineering, will study Japanese. Alejandro de los Santos Gallegos, a freshman computer engineering major, will study Korean.
Alejandro de los Santos Gallegos won a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Spark award in the spring 2025 semester.
Courtesy Alejandro de los Santos Gallegos
Mackenzie Williams, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering, and Brian Niswonger, an Honors junior majoring in kinesiology, will travel to Germany for a full immersion experience through the CBYX scholarship program. This year-long study and work abroad program is jointly funded by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag.
Jaelyn Longino, an Honors sophomore majoring in atmospheric and earth science, was chosen for the NOAA Hollings Scholarship.
According to the program website, the scholarship “provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance (up to $9,500 per year) for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid ($700/week) internship at a NOAA facility during the summer. The internship between the first and second years of the award provides the scholars with hands-on, practical experience in NOAA-related science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities.”
Emily Bethea, a senior communications major, will travel to Japan for the JET Program, which gives her the opportunity to work in schools, boards of education and government offices throughout the country. The JET website notes that “this program offers a unique cultural exchange opportunity to meet people from all around the world, living and working in Japan.” Bethea graduated from UAH in spring 2025.
Congratulations to these outstanding Chargers!