Office of Undergraduate Fellowships

Congratulations to Jace Wakamatsu on being awarded the Critical Language Scholarship! We are proud of your hard work and dedication—wishing you all the best during your time abroad!

?? Exciting news! Meet Prachi Shukla, OUF’s newest case manager, who is here to support you on your fellowships journey! Whether you are just starting or completing your application, feel free to visit her during office hours every Thursday from 9:00 to 10:30 AM in CEB 236. You can also schedule an advising appointment at any time using this link https://lnkd.in/g6yerVnp

Meet Dr. Jenna Altherr Flores Dr. Altherr Flores is the new Director of the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships at the Honors College. With a background in linguistics, rhetoric, and international education, she is passionate about helping students access prestigious scholarships and fellowships. Her diverse experiences, from archaeological work in Greece to teaching in Central America, shape her holistic approach to supporting students.

Meet Dr. Jenna Altherr Flores, the new Director of the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships! Dr. Jenna Altherr Flores, brings a wealth of diverse experiences to her role. With a background in linguistics, rhetoric and composition, and international education, she is dedicated to expanding access to prestigious fellowship and scholarship opportunities for all students, regardless of their major, background, or prior experience. “My vision is to support more students holistically,” she explains. “It’s not just about encouraging students to apply—it’s about helping them recognize their potential and crafting applications that reflect their strengths and aspirations.” Having served as the Associate Director of the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships for two years before stepping into her current leadership role, Dr. Altherr Flores gained firsthand insight into the fellowship process. “There were some fellowships that I had not heard of before. Thankfully, I learned about them while working with Dr. Ludden, the prior director,” she shares. This experience allowed her to connect with more individuals on campus, including students, faculty members, and mentors. She has seen students from various disciplines successfully apply for prestigious awards, including the Truman Scholarship, Critical Language Scholarship, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, and the Boren Awards, among others. Now, she aims to increase outreach to ensure that more students understand they are eligible for support from her office, which serves the entire University of Nevada, Reno community. To increase accessibility, the office offers weekly information sessions and writing workshops. "Every Monday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.and writing workshops on Tuesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. to help students plan ahead and feel comfortable seeking guidance." With Dr. Altherr Flores’s leadership, the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships is committed to empowering more students to pursue and achieve prestigious opportunities.

?? Want to Study Abroad? Apply for the Gilman Scholarship! ?? Who Can Apply? ?? U.S. citizen undergraduate receiving a Pell Grant ?? In the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program ?? Open to all majors ??? Application Deadline: March 6, 2025 ?? Need help with your application? Email us at [email protected]

We are excited to welcome Prachi Shukla to the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships team as our newest Case Manager! Prachi is a senior honors student majoring in Public Health with a minor in Biology. She took on this role because she is passionate about helping others achieve their professional, academic, and personal goals. As a Case Manager, she will support students in applying for nationally and internationally competitive scholarships and fellowships, working one-on-one with applicants to find the right opportunities, develop timelines, assemble application materials, and track their progress. “I have personally applied for fellowships and scholarships, and I found the process rewarding because it helped me understand which goals and ideas were most important to me. I also felt encouraged to grow both personally and professionally in order to reach these goals. A personal motto that I live by is, ‘You are the author of your own story.’ I genuinely believe that you can write your own story and make changes perfectly tailored to your experiences. I have previously served as a tutor, which has helped me develop the skills needed for this role. I now have a better understanding of how to determine what an individual may need to succeed and how to help them achieve their goals. A strength I bring to the team is my ability to stay organized and show empathy, both of which are important skills for building trust. I am continuing to grow my skills and am very excited to join this team and further develop my expertise in the Case Manager role!” Join us in giving Prachi a warm welcome! #UniversityOfNevadaReno #GoPack #fellowships #scholarships

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships! ??? Whether you’re passionate about learning, dreaming big, or pursuing new opportunities, we’re here to support you every step of the way. ???? Tag someone who inspires you to chase your goals!

?? Study Abroad with Phi Kappa Phi! ?? Dreaming of studying abroad? Phi Kappa Phi offers $1,000 grants to help make it happen! Eligibility: ? Be an undergraduate at an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter ? Have a minimum 3.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) ? Your study abroad program must begin between May 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 ? You have applied to or been accepted into an accredited study abroad program before the session deadline ? You are not a sitting Phi Kappa Phi board member, divisional vice president, member of the Study Abroad Award committee or Society employee at time of application ?? Deadline: March 15, 2025 ?? Recipients notified: May 1, 2025 ?? Questions? Visit our office—we’re here to help! Email us at [email protected]. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your horizons and gain global experience! ??? #phikappaphi #studyabroad #travel #universityofnevadareno

We are excited to welcome Abigail Reynoso to the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships team as our Student Fellowships Support Specialist! Abigail is an honors student majoring in Finance and Economics, with minors in Business Analytics and Risk & Insurance. She took this role because she loves helping others discover and access opportunities that enhance their academic and professional journeys. Abigail is eager to guide students toward opportunities that align with their goals and to be part of a team that empowers others. “I have applied for many scholarships, and this experience taught me the importance of self-reflection and effectively communicating my goals and accomplishments. Winning scholarships showed me how impactful these opportunities can be, which has motivated me to support other students in achieving the same success. My personal philosophy is ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ This mindset reminds me that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. It helps me maintain a positive outlook, knowing that all my experiences, whether good or bad, contribute to my journey. My previous experience working with students as a mentor, teaching assistant, and math tutor has prepared me for this role. These experiences have equipped me with strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, ensuring that applicants feel empowered and supported throughout their journey.” Welcome to the team, Abby! @unrhonors @bizunr

?Critical Language Scholarship Semi-Finalist Spotlight ? Jace Wakamatsu, a Journalism major and Political Science minor, has been passionate about learning Russian since sixth grade. His fascination with the language and culture has only grown over the years, shaping both his personal and professional goals. “I applied for CLS as one of multiple attempts to learn Russian. This language is incredibly important to me, not just personally but for my future career. Since sixth grade, I’ve been enamored by Russia and the many other nations that speak Russian—Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and more. I consistently watch Russian-speaking YouTube channels, my favorite movie is Russian, and a very important person in my life is from Russia.” Beyond personal connections, Jace sees the role Russian plays in global affairs and hopes to use his language skills to bring awareness to international policies. “As a journalism major and political science minor, I want to use my fascination with the language to shed light on issues that impact U.S. diplomacy.” The application process wasn’t easy, but Jace dedicated a lot of time, especially on the essay portion. “I spent the most time on the essay questions because they really made me think about why I applied, what I hoped to gain, and how I would use the language. I even sought feedback from OUF Director Dr. Altherr Flores, revised my essays, and submitted them feeling proud of my work. The essays helped me reflect on my passion for learning Russian and solidified how important this opportunity was to me.” Then, during winter break, the exciting news came. “I was overjoyed when I got the email saying I was a semi-finalist. Now, I’m waiting for the final decision in March, but no matter what happens, I’m just grateful for this experience.” Jace’s journey is proof that putting yourself out there and applying for opportunities, even the competitive ones. is always worth it. You never know where it might lead! Let’s send Jace all the good vibes as he awaits the final decision! ???? #UniversityOfNevadaReno #FacesofthePack #PackPride #CriticalLanguageScholarship #StudyAbroad @rsjnevada @clsscholarship