Claremont McKenna College Students Earn Notable Honors

CLAREMONT—Claremont McKenna College students earned recognition on a global scale, with notable scholarships this academic year, ranging from a Rhodes, to several Fulbrights, and many other distinguished fellowships. 

Five members of Claremont McKenna’s Class of 2024 and two recent alumni were awarded esteemed Fulbright grants: Liann Bielicki ’24, Angélica Campos ’20, Nathalie Chavez ’23, Annabelle Duflock ’24, Joelle Min ’24, Emily Ortiz ’24, and Adarsh Srinivasan ’24.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. In February 2024, Claremont McKenna was recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright recipients.

“This year’s Fulbright winners are an impressive group,” said Yi Shun Lai, Claremont McKenna’s Interim Assistant Director of Fellowships Advising. “From carbon cap projects in Southeast Asia to teaching posts in Europe, they represent the true breadth of the student body’s varied aspirations and interests.”

In addition to the Fulbrights, significant honors went to Claremont McKenna students, including, Bertha Tobias ’24, who was honored with a Rhodes Scholarship; Alvin Villarosa ’25, who was named a Barry Goldwater Scholar; and Ivanna Morales Mercado ’25, who earned the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service. 

“We’re proud of them and of their colleagues who won other competitive fellowships ranging from funded graduate-school opportunities in New Zealand and positions in California’s state government, to prestigious science fellowships and humanities scholarships,” Lai continued. “We’re impressed by all of the many students who competed for these opportunities.”

The recognitions will support Claremont McKenna College students to achieve their shared goals of utilizing their leadership skills to meet the world’s challenges.

Here is the full list of Claremont McKenna student awards:

• Genevieve McCloy ’24 (Assembly)
• Caruna Gillespie ’24 (Senate)

Coro (Public affairs and urban studies)

• Kenya Nunez ’24

Critical Language Scholarship (Fully funded summer program to study critical languages)

• Alexandra Perez-Pleitez ’26

Elbaz Family Post-Grad Fellowship (Year-long placement with a human rights organization funded by the Mgrublian Center)

• José Chiquito ’24
• Riley Green ’24

Fulbright Recipients

• Liann Bielicki ’24 – English Teaching Assistant, Taiwan
• Angélica Campos ’20 – Fulbright Graduate Degree, Mexico
• Nathalie Chavez ’23 – English Teaching Assistant, South Korea
• Annabelle Duflock ’24 – English Teaching Assistant, Spain
• Joelle Min ’24 – English Teaching Assistant, South Korea
• Emily Ortiz ‘24 – English Teaching Assistant, Taiwan
• Adarsh Srinivasan ’24 – Open Study/Research Award (Environmental Studies), Indonesia
• Shay Suresh '24 – Open Study/Research Award (Public Policy), Ireland

Goldwater Scholarship (STEM research)

• Alvin Villarosa ‘25

J. Carolyn and Joseph B. McMullin Endowed Rotary Global Grant Scholarship (Graduate school funding abroad)

• Richa Parikh ’24

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (5C Fellowship to introduce students from underrepresented backgrounds to research and academic careers)

• Louis Layman ’26

Napier Award for Creative Leadership (Grant to a 5C senior for a significant community development project)

• Rukmini Banerjee ’24

Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service (Public service leadership development)

• Ivanna Morales Mercado ’25

Project Horseshoe Farm (Community health fellowships)

• Keeley LaRiviere ’24 (Yearlong fellowship starting summer 2024)
• Liya Yemaneberhane ’24 (Winter fellowship)

Projects for Peace (Grant for a significant summer community development project)

• Genevieve McCloy ’24
• Richa Parikh ’24
• Laura Rich ’24

Rhodes Scholarship (Fully funded degree at Oxford University)

• Bertha Tobias ’24

Rotary Global Grant (to fund graduate school study)

• Tallan Donine ’21

The Public Interest Fellowship (Two-year fellowship designed for professional development)

• Pieter van Wingerden ’24

About Claremont McKenna College:
Claremont McKenna College is a private, 1,300-student residential liberal arts college located east of Los Angeles in Southern California. Since 1946, the College’s mission has been to prepare students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions. Renowned for its Open Academy commitments to freedom of expression, viewpoint diversity, and constructive dialogue, as well as expertise in economics and government, Claremont McKenna also features an accomplished faculty of scholars and committed teachers in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Students are drawn to the College’s unparalleled offerings, including: 11 research institutes and centers; the ability to conduct research one-on-one with faculty; and access to leaders, artists, and visionaries who engage with students at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum. Claremont McKenna is a member of The Claremont Colleges. For more information, visit https://www.cmc.edu/.