The Awards Whisperer

As a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for 2023–2024, the University of Houston consistently turns out winners of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program: a highly competitive and prestigious fellowship that sends students to study, conduct research and/or teach abroad. In 2024, the UH Fulbright cohort rose to an astonishing 14 students. Another student, Mielad Ziaee, was named a Truman Scholar — one of only three UH students ever to receive this public service-oriented honor.

But these impressive numbers didn’t happen by accident. They’re the result of years of hard work by Ben Rayder, UH’s executive director of undergraduate research and major awards. As a Fulbright recipient himself in his undergraduate years, Rayder knows firsthand the impact a fellowship or scholarship can have on a student’s journey and sense of self-confidence.

“Because it’s such an intensive process, anybody who goes through a fellowship application gains a greater sense of accomplishment whether they’re a recipient or not,” Rayder says. “Some people get really hooked on the whole process and want to apply for more awards. To manage a project of that nature is a really rewarding feeling.”

The bulk of Rayder’s work involves identifying and reaching out to potential fellowship candidates, encouraging them to apply and guiding them through the (often-extensive) application process, which might include filling out detailed application materials, writing multiple essays and preparing for interviews.

“It really comes down to building relationships with faculty and staff across the University,” he says of identifying prime awards candidates and pushing them to apply. “I’m based in The Honors College, but we try to promote the fact that fellowships are for everyone. I do my best to try to get as much buy-in as possible from other people on campus and explain to them why everyone can win from this, whether it’s the students themselves, a different college or the University as a whole.”

Rayder credits Houston’s status as an international city and the UH student body’s rich diversity for providing a healthy pipeline of potential scholars, fellows and award winners. “We have people who come from all walks of life, not just from different demographic groups,” Rayder says. “I get to learn what it’s like to be a nontraditional student or what it’s like to come from another country as a refugee and seek asylum in a place like Houston. That’s just something that’s not afforded to many of my colleagues at other universities.”

He also says the University itself has plenty of pieces in place to become a top producer of scholars and fellows: a vibrant undergrad research culture, especially engaged and motivated students, and a flourishing public service learning program.

Rayder strives to evangelize the successes of previous awards recipients to inspire other undergrads to seek out and apply for programs like the Fulbright or the Truman.

“We try to let the campus community know as much as possible about these awards because we want other students to be inspired by the successes of others who have come before them,” he says. “At a school like UH, which is aspiring and ambitious, it helps a lot to see that there’s a goal others can strive for. I’m really grateful the school continues to dedicate resources to creating a strong fellowships culture.”