All Aboard UH’s Student Success Express
Scholarships, Awards Transporting Coogs to New Academic Environments
It has been yet another banner year for student success at the University of Houston.
On the heels of UH announcing a record number of student Fulbrights and a student earning the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, Cougars have received even more distinguished honors that will support their personal and professional growth.
These include the Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service awarded to psychology major Mielad Ziaee. More than 700 applicants vied for this honor, and just 20 were selected by the nation’s most prestigious honor society. As a recipient of the PBK Key into Public Service, Ziaee will receive a $5,000 scholarship and attend a conference in Washington D.C. that will offer mentorship, professional training and insights on citizenship.
The PBK Key into Public Service complements Ziaee’s academic and personal interests in supporting his community and eradicating food insecurity and addressing health disparities.
“Public service is important for me because I can directly support communities, especially those that are historically underserved or underrepresented in public service,” said Ziaee, UH’s recipient of the Truman Scholarship. “Public service — especially in healthcare — enables me to support systemic change, which will ensure governmental & institutional policies and practices positively support well-being of communities.”
Courtesy of Phi Beta Kappa
Courtesy of Phi Beta Kappa
Mielad Ziaee
Mielad Ziaee
Another health-minded Coog is bound for our nation’s capital courtesy of the Payne International Development Fellowship. Recent public health graduate Fatou Jallow was recently named a 2024 Payne Fellow. Her prior experiences traveling to Asia, Africa and the Middle East and a passion for public health were essential in securing this opportunity. Named for late U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, the fellowship is awarded to students, who engage in internships in Washington D.C. and overseas.
Fellow UH student Yuwei Zhang, will also hit the road with support from a major award. The doctoral economics student was selected to attend the prestigious Price Theory Summer Camp hosted by the Becker Friedman Institute of Economics at the University of Chicago.
During this one-week event, Zhang and other top students will attend seminars led by scholars from the University of Chicago and other institutions. They also will learn the price theory, which has been used by award-winning economists to predict human behavior and emphasizes the application of basic economic tools to problems.
Angela Dang
Angela Dang
Other students are also taking their talents outside the U.S. as 13 Coogs earned the Bejamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. As Gilman Scholars, they will study and participate in internships in locations around the world.
"The Gilman Scholarship has been instrumental in supporting my personal and academic goals as a marketing major at the Bauer College of Business,” said UH Gilman Scholar Angela Dang, who will soon venture to South Korea to continue her studies at Yonsei University. “This opportunity is helping me develop as a global leader and understand international business dynamics. I am forever grateful to the Gilman Scholarship for making my dream of studying abroad in Korea a reality," she said.
Another Gilman Scholar Imran Kader is also looking forward to venturing abroad. He will visit Amman, Jordan's Sijal Institute for Arabic Language and Culture.
“Being a Gilman Scholar will allow me to broaden my view, and understand the nuances that make different cultures beautiful, allowing me to connect with people from different walks of life, whether in the workplace or in my society,” said Kader, who also received the Critical Need Language Supplement Scholarship from Gilman Scholarship Program.
Other recipients of the Gilman Scholarship include:
Ivana Marilu Delgado
Caroline Shiloh
Salma Gaballa
Chelsey Nhung Phan
Cristian Narciso Gonzalez Hernandez
Petra Ariororgae Anazonwu
Alishba Altaf Malik
Alain Champigny
Dulce Garza
Emily Diaz
Brianna Hernandez
“Being a Gilman Scholar will allow me to broaden my view, and understand the nuances that make different cultures beautiful, allowing me to connect with people from different walks of life, whether in the workplace or in my society.”
Students earning the Gilman, Payne, PBK and Price Theory awards are just some of the many success stories emanating from UH. With support from a number of offices and departments, they’re extending their academic experiences beyond University classrooms.
In earning respected scholarships and fellowships, students receive guidance from their faculty mentors, the University’s colleges and departments such as the Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards (within the Honors College) and the Institute for Global Engagement (part of the the Office of the Provost).
“UH will be well-represented by these outstanding Coogs during their travels,” said Diane Z. Chase, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Their achievements exemplify student success at the University of Houston and will no doubt inspire peers to also strive for excellence in their academic endeavors.”
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