Past URDS Impact Fund Recipients
The Undergraduate Research and Distinguished Scholarships Impact Fund was used immediately to help students with expenses related to the distinguished application process, such as travel for finalist interviews and to support conference attendance to strengthen academic and professional development. Below are the stories of student who have benefited from the URDS Impact Fund, including the creation of a conference that would help tribal/indigenous youth in Oregon.
2024 recipient, Yazzie Chee, named Mr. Indigenous UO by the Native American Student Union, is no stranger to overcoming challenges to find a caring community.
2023 recipient, Ashia Grae Wolf Wilson has conducted research at the University of Oregon Special Collections and the National Archives in Seattle, Washington.
2023 recipient, a Truman finalist and former UO Student Body Vice President Kavi Shrestha, also a Wayne Morse Scholar, is passionate about advocacy and global health equity.
2023 recipient, Truman Scholar and UO Student Body President Luda Isakharov wasn’t intimidated by the hard work needed to complete the application materials for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
2024 recipient and 2024 Rhodes Finalist Colleen Uzoekwe is a track and field team heptathlete with PAC 12, a National All American, and a Diversity Excellence Scholar -- to name only a few achievements.
Charles was a 2025 Rhodes Finalist (District 14) and served as UO Representative; "4th Global Peace Summit" at United Nations Thailand, UO CURE Surf Humanities Fellowship, among other accolades.
Oliver was a 2025 Rhodes Finalist (District 14), a Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars Fellow, and Co-Founder of UO chapter of the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) Foundation. He is the co-founder & CEO, ClearMark Biosciences. These are just a few of his accomplishments.
2023 recipient, Lucy Roberts is no stranger to accomplishment. She was a 2024 Rhodes finalist, an Oxford Consortium for Human Rights Fellow, a First-Year Research Experience Fellow, and a graduate of the Clarks Honor College.
In the spring of 2023, Nayantara Arora, a Clark Honors College senior majoring in neuroscience and minoring in chemistry and global health, was awarded the Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service Scholarship for 2023. Nayantara was named a Rhodes Scholar in 2024.
Transfer and first-generation student Abdirahim Mohamoud not only wants to create a more inclusive legal environment; he has already done it. Abdirahim was a 2024 Truman Finalist.
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