Top OSU students earn national and international scholarships

Thursday, September 3, 2020

 OSU’s 2019-2020 academic year was one for the books.

Earlier this year, OSU’s Cole Replogle was named a Gates Cambridge Scholar, widely known as one of the most prestigious undergraduate awards in the world. Adrienne Blakey was named a Truman Scholar, and Josh Anadu and Blake Bartlett were named Goldwater Scholars.

Oklahoma State University students continue to earn national and international scholarships thanks in part to the programs and services offered by the Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research.

“While there is no magic formula when it comes to student success in scholarship competitions, the 2019-20 academic year demonstrates what can happen when promising students are identified early, have access to unique programs, and receive effective guidance and mentorship — not just from faculty and staff, but from their fellow students as well,” said Jessica Sullins, director of the Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research.

Since becoming director in 2016, Sullins has put extensive effort into outreach, recruitment and collaboration with faculty members and departments to generate support for the office and the students it serves.

“They [students] come to the university with motivation, academic talent and natural potential, and these are fostered by the culture of mentorship provided by our supportive faculty,” Sullins said.

Students can get help with applications, mock interviews, personal guidance and expertise in particular disciplines.

As a land-grant institution, OSU is heavily invested in undergraduate research that offers several scholarship opportunities. The Freshman Research Scholars Program provides first-year students with a $1,000 scholarship funded by the Robberson Trust, and the Lew Wentz Foundation provides approximately 40 annual awards of $4,500 for undergraduate research as well as significant funding for the Cambridge Scholars Program. The Cambridge program takes 15-20 students to the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom for two weeks during the summer, where they take part in a unique course taught by OSU faculty.

Additional campus resources such as OSU’s Honors College, the Niblack Research Scholars Program, the Study Abroad Office, the OK-LSAMP Scholars Program, the Center for Sovereign Nations and the Department of Leadership and Campus Life provide students with experiences beyond the classroom that contribute to their academic and professional development. All of these help students compete for highly prestigious awards.

“I always encourage my students to seek out experiences that they find exciting, inspiring, and rewarding,” Sullins said. “While many of these occur in the classroom, there are a multitude of others to explore and your time as an undergraduate passes quickly. This is the time to study abroad, initiate a service project, take on a leadership role, engage in research or take part in an internship.”

Sullins mentioned one student is considering doing research on COVID-19 because of her interest in zoonotic diseases. Another is looking at volunteer options in testing labs.

“Getting to know OSU faculty and staff is critical, too, as we are more than happy to provide guidance and support to help you achieve your goals,” Sullins said. “This may include a major scholarship or fellowship, but if not, these experiences and skills will help prepare you for graduate or professional school or for the job market.”

Recent graduate Cole Replogle, a mechanical and aerospace engineering major from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was one of 28 U.S. students selected this year for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

He plans to pursue a master’s degree in research in future propulsion and power at the University of Cambridge. Replogle’s research focus at OSU had been on hybrid gas-electric aircraft propulsion and developing systems that are less taxing on the environment.

“I look forward to representing my home state and OSU as part of a global community at Cambridge,” Replogle said.

Replogle also served as a mentor during the Writers’ Workshop at OSU’s Doel Reed Center for the Arts in Taos, New Mexico, earlier this year, helping students nominated for the Truman, Goldwater and Udall Scholarships craft and revise their applications.

“Students have the opportunity to be surrounded by highly motivated peers from areas outside their discipline, and they not only benefit from one another’s energy, but they also challenge and support each other — despite the fact that they’re often the competition,” Sullins said.

“While we always hope our students will earn the national or international recognition they deserve, we also want the experience not to be purely award-driven. This process, we hope, provides them with skills that will contribute to their academic, professional and personal development for many years to come.”