Three Michigan State University Honors College students are finalists in national competitions: one, a research program focused on international affairs; the other, a scholarship for students pursuing a career in the public sector.
Each year, the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace holds a rigorous national competition that selects between 12 and 14 graduating seniors to serve as research assistants. They are matched with senior fellows – academics, former government officials, lawyers and journalists from around the world – to work on a variety of international affairs issues.
The Truman Scholarship Foundation recognizes students with exceptional leadership potential who show their commitment to affecting change through public service. The Foundation provides the students with financial support for graduate study, leadership training and fellowship with other students.
The Gaither finalists are: Sumaya Malas, an Honors College senior majoring in comparative cultures and politics and international relations in James Madison College, as well as Arabic in the College of Arts and Letters; and Edvard (Ellie) Tingstad, an Honors College senior majoring in economics in the College of Social Science, and Chinese and German in the College of Arts and Letters.
“I am humbled and honored to be a James C. Gaither Jr. Fellows finalist,” Malas said. “It would be a privilege to be in the company of such amazing scholars at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and to begin my journey as a scholar, advocate, and activist for peace around the world.”
“After following the work of senior fellows at the Carnegie Endowment for some time, I could not feel more honored to be selected for this interview,” Tingstad said.
Tingstad and Malas will interview for the Gaither Junior Fellows Program on February 25 and 26, respectively.
MSU’s Truman finalist is Jonathan Walkotten, an Honors College junior majoring in social relations and policy in James Madison College and women’s and gender studies in the College of Arts and Letters.
“I am incredibly honored to be selected as finalist for the Truman Scholarship, especially when I think about the caliber of student leaders at MSU and nationally that have been nominated,” Walkotten said.
Walkotten will interview for the Truman Scholarship on March 11.
The National/International Fellowships & Scholarships Office, administered by the Honors College, helps interested undergraduate and graduate students pursue major national and international opportunities by providing information and direct support throughout the competitive application processes.