Notre Dame Seniors Earn Prestigious National Fellowships and Scholarships, Showcasing Academic Excellence, Leadership, and Global Commitment to Service.

The University of Notre Dame continues to uphold its tradition of fostering exceptional talent and leadership among its students. In the 2024–2025 academic year, several Notre Dame seniors have been honored with prestigious national fellowships and scholarships, underscoring their academic prowess, leadership abilities, and dedication to service. These accolades not only highlight individual achievements but also reflect the university’s commitment to nurturing scholars who aspire to make a global impact.

1. National Merit Scholarship Finalists

Three seniors from Notre Dame Preparatory School have been named finalists in the 2025 National Merit® Scholarship Program. Ethan Dhomnic, Marc Farah, and Mary Grace Larocca now compete for approximately 6,870 scholarships totaling nearly $26 million. These scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, and service. Finalists are selected from over 1.6 million entrants who took the PSAT/NMSQT, with winners announced in the spring and summer of 2025.

2. Stamps Scholars Program

Chase Baker, a senior at Queensbury High School, has been named a Stamps Scholar by the University of Notre Dame. This esteemed scholarship covers full tuition, fees, books, personal expenses, and transportation for all four years, along with an enrichment fund for activities such as study abroad, internships, research, leadership training, and conferences. The Stamps Scholars Program recognizes students who exemplify leadership, service, scholarship, innovation, and character. Chase’s involvement in extracurricular activities, including serving as class president and captain of both the varsity lacrosse and basketball teams, as well as his membership in various honor societies, contributed to his selection.

3. Rhodes Scholarship

MacKenzie Isaac, a Notre Dame alumna and former Kellogg International Scholar, has been selected as a Rhodes Scholar. This prestigious award will support her studies at the University of Oxford in England. MacKenzie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, minoring in data science and Latino studies, and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in health education from Columbia University Teachers College in New York. The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the oldest and most esteemed international fellowship programs, recognizing outstanding students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to service.

4. Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

Geraldine Mukumbi, a Notre Dame alumna and former Kellogg International Scholar, has been awarded the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship. This program provides funding for graduate study at Stanford University and engages students in experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders. Geraldine majored in Africana studies and is currently a teacher in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is designed to develop a community of future global leaders from diverse disciplines.

5. Schwarzman Scholars Program

Trevor Lwere, a graduating senior from Notre Dame, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar. This program offers a one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Trevor, a native of Kampala, Uganda, majored in economics and global affairs and minored in philosophy, politics, and economics. He is the first Notre Dame student to receive this scholarship, which aims to prepare the next generation of global leaders through a rigorous academic curriculum and immersive cultural experiences.

6. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

Several Notre Dame Engineering students and recent graduates have been awarded 2024 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships. This fellowship supports outstanding students pursuing full-time research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. The recipients from Notre Dame Engineering include:

• Dominique Gramm, bioengineering (CBE graduate student)
• Jack Kalicak, mechanical engineering (AME)
• Erin Neu ’22, biomedical engineering (CBE)
• Fiona Neylon ’22, mechanical engineering (AME)

Additionally, five students received honorable mentions for their exemplary work in STEM fields.

7. Deans’ Fellowship

The Deans’ Fellowship is awarded to approximately fifteen entering doctoral and master’s students each year, recognizing outstanding performance in undergraduate studies and notable promise in graduate studies and professional life. This fellowship is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are first-generation, low-income college students, have joined at least one affinity group associated with an underrepresented minority, or have graduated from historically black colleges or universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, or tribal colleges or universities. Deans’ Fellows receive stipends significantly higher than the standard University stipend, along with full coverage of the University’s health insurance premium cost.

8. Naughton Fellowship

The Naughton Fellowship facilitates cross-cultural collaborative research between Notre Dame and leading Irish universities, enabling successful candidates to participate in science and engineering studies with cutting-edge professors on both sides of the Atlantic. At the undergraduate level, students apply to a summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, which offers full tuition, living expenses, and a cultural enrichment program. Seniors seeking to pursue a master’s degree may apply for a one-year fellowship, which also provides full tuition and a generous stipend, offering students the opportunity to obtain a degree from one of four specific universities in Ireland.

9. Truman Scholarship

The Truman Scholarship is awarded to juniors with leadership experience who plan to pursue careers in education, government, non-profit, or public interest. The scholarship offers $30,000 for graduate school and access to a powerful network of change-makers. Notre Dame has a strong track record of producing Truman Scholars, with several students and alumni having received this honor in recent years.

10. Beinecke Scholarship

The Beinecke Scholarship provides a $5,000 award and $30,000 in funding for graduate study for exceptional juniors pursuing graduate school in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. Applicants must be nominated by their university and demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to public service. Notre Dame has had several students selected for this prestigious scholarship in the past.

The achievements of these Notre Dame seniors and alumni exemplify the university’s commitment to developing scholars who are not only academically accomplished but also dedicated to leadership and service. Through programs like the Rhodes Scholarship, Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, Schwarzman Scholars Program, and various fellowships, Notre Dame continues to produce graduates who are poised to make significant contributions to society on a global scale. These accolades reflect the university’s mission to educate the next generation of leaders who will address complex challenges and drive positive change in the world.