Florida State University awarded honors medallions to 548 high-achieving graduates during the spring 2026 Medallion Celebration at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

The FSU Honors Program supports the efforts and talents of some of the university’s most intellectually curious students who have the potential, dedication and drive for creating change.

The celebration included remarks by Associate Dean of Honors, Scholars, and Fellows D. Craig Filar and Dean of Undergraduate Studies DeOnte Brown.

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A Florida State University master’s student and Presidential Scholar was accepted into a highly competitive national fellowship program for emerging civic leaders.

Ella Garcia, who is working toward her master’s degree in public administration, was accepted into the Coro Fellows Program housed at University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The Coro Fellows Program was founded in 1947 in San Francisco to train young World War II veterans in civic leadership skills. It now operates four centers in St. Louis, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, where it serves to advance civic engagement and accelerate the careers of those in public affairs.

As a Coro Fellow, Garcia will live in St. Louis and participate in a full-time, graduate-level leadership training program that includes seminars, interviews with local leaders, opportunities to learn about regionally specific topics, and placement in organizations across nonprofit, business and government sectors.

“I’m excited because it’s going to be very fulfilling to focus on the aspect of public administration that’s about giving back, not just pursuing my own professional goals, but learning how I can better the communities around me,” Garcia said. “It’s one thing to study administration and government in a theoretical way, but it’s another to apply what I’ve learned hands-on. It’s what I feel like I’m called to do.”

From Mount Dora, Florida, Garcia is a member of FSU’s Presidential Scholars Program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and will graduate with her master’s degree this summer with support from FSU’s More in Four program, which helps high achieving students complete a bachelor’s degree in three years and continue immediately into a master’s degree.

Professors and mentors say Garcia’s involvement at FSU has prepared her well for the Coro Fellows Program. That includes her participation in FSU’s Applied Politics & Policy Learning Experience (APPLE) program, in the Department of Political Science, where she was able to intern for a state representative and a member of U.S. Congress.

“Ella has used her time at FSU to gain extensive hands-on government experience and advanced analytical skills, with the aim of driving informed, community-oriented public service,” said FSU professor Amanda Driscoll, cofounder of APPLE and one of Garcia’s mentors. “The Coro Fellowship will provide her with additional public service experience and practical leadership training to deepen her impact and professional growth. I am confident that she will translate her established civic commitments into effective, real-world solutions, and we can’t wait to see what she will accomplish next.”

Garcia’s interest in policy work extended beyond U.S. government last summer, when she traveled with a group of FSU Honors Program students to the Oxford Consortium of Human Rights workshop at the University of Oxford in England.

“Ella is among the finest students I’ve worked with at Florida State,” said Ross Moret, who led the trip to Oxford and serves as an associate teaching professor in the FSU Honors Program. “She is dedicated, responsible, insightful and caring. She will make an outstanding Coro Fellow.”

As a Presidential Scholar, Garcia said she enjoyed mentorship and a peer community that helped motivate her to reach her goals.

“FSU and the Presidential Scholars Program specifically have been instrumental for me,” she said. “It’s really shaped who I am, as a leader and as a person.”

To learn more about student support for pursuing national fellowships, visit the Office of National Fellowships and the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards.

Visit the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy website to learn more about the college, department and programs.

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Florida State University has retained first-year students from their fall to spring semester at a record 99.2% rate, one of the highest in the country, and a testament to the school’s commitment to undergraduate student success.

First-semester retention measures the number of students who stay enrolled at the university from their first fall semester to spring semester. During the 2025-2026 academic year, 6,425 entered as first-year students and 6,374 stayed enrolled for the spring.

“We’re proud to sustain nationally recognized graduation and retention rates and to have a new university record with a 99.2% fall-to-spring retention,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “These outcomes reflect the holistic support and engagement we provide students, helping them feel at home at FSU and succeed in an academically invigorating environment.”

FSU broke a record in first-semester retention during the 2022-2023 academic year, reaching 99% for the first time. FSU’s investments in student success continue to result in record-breaking retention and graduation rates.

The university recently established the new Student Academic Success division, appointing former Dean of Undergraduate Studies Joe O’Shea as its new vice president. He leads the university’s comprehensive efforts to recruit, retain and graduate an accomplished student body.

“Across our university, we are collaborating and thinking strategically about how to deliver a rewarding college experience to our students,” said O’Shea, vice president for Student Academic Success. “Our fall-to-spring retention rates show that we take our commitment seriously to give all students from all backgrounds a world-class education at FSU and to set them up for success right away.”

In Fall 2025, FSU achieved its highest-ever 97% overall retention rate, which calculates how many first-year students stay enrolled from their first to second fall semesters. That number landed FSU No. 4 nationally among public universities. The most recently recorded national average retention rate from first to second fall was 82%, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

“Our fall-to-spring retention rates show that we take our commitment seriously to give all students from all backgrounds a world-class education at FSU and to set them up for success right away.” 

– Joe O’Shea, vice president for Student Academic Success

Earlier this year, the university also reached a four-year graduation rate record at 78%, placing FSU No. 9 nationally among public universities.

“Fall-to-spring retention rates offer insight into a uniquely important chapter in a student’s life,” said DeOnte Brown, dean of Undergraduate Studies and acting director of the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE). “The fact that so many of our students who complete their first semester return to school after winter break shows that they are finding community, connecting with their professors, and accessing the resources that help them succeed. We’re proud of the work we do to help students feel at home from Day 1.”

FSU ranks No. 1 for Best First-Year Experiences among public institutions in Florida in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges 2026” guidebook, a testament to the university’s exceptional support programs that drive student success and foster positive learning outcomes.

FSU runs an Office of Retention, which supports undergraduate students by helping them stay on track toward earning their degrees. It offers first‑year college transition and engagement programs, helping students overcome course registration challenges and connecting directly with students to offer additional guidance or resources.

Through the Office of Retention, the Engage 100 program manages first-year courses that introduce students to campus resources, academic skills and university life. Noles Everywhere connects students from out of state to peer leaders who help build support networks both on and off campus. The office also leads programs to support students who are repeating courses and campaigns that encourage timely graduation by promoting balanced course loads.

“Our mission is to ensure every undergraduate student feels supported as they navigate their academic journey, especially during the first year,” said Allison Peters, assistant dean of retention and academic engagement. “From innovative engagement programs to personalized outreach, we strive to help students build strong connections, effectively utilize university resources, and engage in meaningful educational activities.”

Recent investments in undergraduate student success have powered growth in the University Honors Program and Presidential Scholars Program, which serve high-achieving students with signature interdisciplinary courses, specialized advising, and dedicated housing, classroom and study space. The Honors Program was recently named No. 1 in the state of Florida.

FSU’s CARE for first-generation and Pell Grant-eligible students has grown to support nearly all students who qualify with funding, advising, mentoring, life coaching, study spaces and enrichment programming.

FSU offers 11 living-learning communities for first-year students, which allow students to live on campus with peers who share similar interests. FSU has earned the No. 1 spot among public schools in Florida on U.S. News & World Report’s Learning Communities list in the publication’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings.

The university operates the Advising First network of academic advising and guidance for students before they are admitted into their majors. Advising First runs specialized programs that include College Life Coaching, the Center for Academic Guidance and advising for students in the Exploratory major.

For more information about FSU’s Division of Student Academic Success, visit academicsuccess.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University’s Honors Program was ranked No. 1 in Florida by the college ranking publication College Transitions, a resource for high school students and college counselors and the primary source for honors college rankings.

On its 2026 list of “50 Best Honors Colleges,” College Transitions ranked FSU No. 17 nationally among all honors colleges and programs.

While some universities offer separate honors colleges, FSU offers a comprehensive program designed to meet student needs. The program placed No. 6 among honors programs on College Transitions’ list using methodology that considers selectivity, benefits and program rigor.

“Our Honors Program has seen so much exciting growth in the past few years, thanks to President McCullough’s visionary investments,” said DeOnte Brown, dean of Undergraduate Studies. “We’re proud to offer a vibrant community that nurtures highly inquisitive students, engages them in a dynamic academic experience with their peers and prepares them for a future where they can thrive out in the world.”

The Honors Program has grown during McCullough’s tenure from about 400 per class before 2023 to more than 800 in the Fall 2025 class. It is the only Honors program in Florida that has a dedicated faculty who design Honors Signature Courses — interactive, interdisciplinary classes available exclusively to Honors students.

Ten full-time Honors faculty members offer courses on a variety of topics such as superheroes and ethics, coffee and culture in the U.S. and gaming in the ancient world.

“I’m so grateful for the dedication of our faculty and staff across campus who mentor, teach and support our remarkable students every day,” said Joe O’Shea, vice president for Student Academic Success. “We are honored to serve the brightest scholars from across Florida and elsewhere so they can thrive as leaders in their fields and strengthen the future of our communities.”

“The Honors Program at FSU was such a meaningful part of my undergraduate experience. It gave me incredible professors and engaging courses, but most importantly, an amazing community and friendships that lasted throughout my time at Florida State.”

– Hayley Schermer, FSU Honors graduate

Former Honors student Hayley Schermer, who graduated in December with a cell and molecular neuroscience degree, is working as a patient care assistant in the Neuro and Cardiac Intermediate Care Unit at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare while she prepares to start medical school in the summer.

“The Honors Program at FSU was such a meaningful part of my undergraduate experience,” Schermer said. “It gave me incredible professors and engaging courses, but most importantly, an amazing community and friendships that lasted throughout my time at Florida State.”

Students can live in Honors housing in one of two centrally located residence halls and have dedicated program advising. They have access to classrooms, study spaces, gathering areas and resources such as advising, the Office of National Fellowships and the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement in the Honors, Scholars, and Fellows House.

More than 200 students are enrolled in Honors in the Major, an opportunity within the Honors Program that provides students from any major the chance to engage in graduate level research, either with an original thesis or creative project.

Last summer, the Honors Program debuted its new Honors Global Experiences program in London, where 15 students traveled with Honors Associate Director Michael Furman to explore the city and surrounding areas while taking the Honors Signature Course “In the Footsteps of the Ancients: Roman Britain.”

Hayden Thomas is a senior political science and economics Honors student from Tampa who is studying abroad at the FSU London Study Center and interning at a United Kingdom policy organization.

“The Honors Program gave me a community of intellectually curious student leaders who pushed me to grow academically, professionally and personally,” Thomas said. “That foundation made it possible for me to pursue transformative opportunities, including serving as president of the Honors Student Association, conducting research through Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program and Honors in the Major, and engaging in immersive professional experiences.”

To provide more opportunities for students, FSU has also doubled the size of its Presidential Scholars Program in recent years. Presidential Scholars is FSU’s premier undergraduate merit scholarship program that invests in students who stand out for their potential to be transformational leaders.

There are now 60 students admitted to each class of the Presidential Scholars Program, where students engage in a four-year sequence of learning and community engagement that focuses on four foundational tenets: wisdom, leadership, service and character.

On top of the generous scholarship funding, students in the program receive financial support for enrichment opportunities such as international study or service, internships, research and creative projects, and more.

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This summer, Florida State University students participated in prestigious academic programs at the University of Oxford in England, continuing FSU’s tradition of global engagement and interdisciplinary learning.  

Honors students at the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights 

Eight students from the FSU Honors Program participated in the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights workshop, joining peers from around the world to explore the theme “Human Rights and New Technology.” This marked the fourth consecutive year FSU has sent students to the Consortium, with this year’s group being the largest yet. 

The workshop, which took place July 6-12, focused on the role of technology in modern society and explored the urgent, exciting and concerning issues around changing technological landscapes and how this influences day-to-day life. 

Throughout the week, students engaged in discussions on the ethical and societal impacts of emerging technologies.  

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A Florida State University Presidential Scholar has won a prestigious scholarship through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in recognition of his work studying the effect of fires on air quality. 

Matthew Azuara, a meteorology sophomore from Guilford, Conn., has been awarded the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, which includes financial assistance plus a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility next summer.  

Azuara’s research at FSU has focused on the emissions from agricultural burning practices in the eastern United States. Burning crop residues at the end of the season can release particulate matter and greenhouse gases that can have adverse health effects on nearby communities and the environment. Azuara seeks to get a better look at potential differences from crop to crop.

“We’re trying to build the database of agricultural pilot fires and then break it down by crop type,” Azuara said. “Meteorology is always something I’ve been interested in since I was very, very young.”   

He began his research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), where he worked under the mentorship of Christopher Holmes, an associate professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science.  

Azuara’s work with Holmes extends beyond UROP and centers on using new satellite-based instruments to measure greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions from fires. 

“Matthew’s selection as a NOAA Hollings Scholar recognizes his outstanding academic record and strong potential to impact the field of atmospheric and environmental science,” Holmes said. “Matthew has done excellent independent research over the last two years. He should be very proud of this research work and his many other accomplishments at FSU.” 

Through the Hollings internship opportunity next summer, Azuara will work closely with a research mentor and gain hands-on experience at an NOAA facility of his choosing. The scholarship also covers travel expenses for an orientation meeting and the annual Science & Education Symposium, where scholars present their research findings. 

“It’s going to be such a big steppingstone for me – a really big opportunity – because I’m going to be able to network with so many people,” Azuara said. “This is going to show me what’s possible.”  

 For more information about FSU Office of National Fellowships, visit onf.fsu.edu.  

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Florida State University awarded honors medallions to 65 high-achieving graduates during the Dec. 10 Medallion Ceremony in the University Alumni Center Ballroom.

The FSU Honors Program supports the efforts and talents of some of the university’s most intellectually curious students who have the potential, dedication and drive for creating change.

The ceremony included remarks by D. Craig Filar, associate dean of Honors, Scholars, and Fellows; Kieran Stenson, outstanding senior scholar graduate; and Julie Decker, president and chief executive officer of the FSU Alumni Association.

The breakdown of the honors awardees is as follows:

40 Graduates, University Honors Program

Completed the University Honors Program, earning at least 18 Honors points in fulfillment of the FSU Honors Program requirements.

20 Graduates, Honors in the Major Program

Completed an Honors thesis in fulfillment of the requirement for the distinction “with Honors” in their major department.

2 Graduates, Dual Honors

Completed both the University Honors Program and the Honors in the Major Program.

3 Graduates, Outstanding Senior Scholar

Completed both the University Honors Program and the Honors in the Major Program, with a 3.9 cumulative GPA or higher.

The honors medallion recipients, along with their hometowns, academic majors and award designations are listed by state and city below:

COLORADO

Centennial

Bridget Gorder, Choral Music Education, Honors in the Major

FLORIDA

Boca Raton

Natalie Bennett, Criminology, Honors in the Major

Clearwater

Elisa Lopez-Espino, Nursing, Honors in the Major

Coconut Creek

Jonathan Hammond, Finance, University Honors

Daytona Beach

Rania Chehaitli, Political Science; International Affairs, University Honors

Delray Beach

Olivia Street, Psychology, University Honors

Doral

Sarah Romero, Biomathematics, Honors in the Major

Fort Lauderdale

Graceann Scherer, Japanese Language & Culture, Honors in the Major

Fort Myers

Avery Geerlings, Political Science, University Honors

Gainesville

Jude Edelman, Sociology; Psychology, Honors in the Major

David Garner, Political Science; International Affairs, University Honors

Nicholas Shunick, Economics, University Honors

Mia Zheng, Nursing, University Honors

Gulf Breeze

Hana Poole, Public Health, University Honors

Hollywood

Michael Ryder, International Affairs, University Honors

Jacksonville

Kiara Videla, Criminology, Honors in the Major

Jupiter

Leanna Overbeck, Studio Art, Honors in the Major

Kissimmee

Sophia Gannaoui, Choral Music Education, Dual Honors

Lake Mary

Ananda Jaundoo, Psychology, Dual Honors

Lake Worth

Kelly Gerhoff, Criminology, University Honors

Lakewood Ranch

Eric Lovine, Marketing; Psychology, University Honors

Land O Lakes

Graceanne Hoback, Political Science, Honors in the Major

Merritt Island

Caroline Zeek, Clinical Professions, University Honors

Mims

Brenna Row, Psychology, Honors in the Major

Navarre

Amari Riley, Management Information Systems, University Honors

New Port Richey

Benjamin Anderson, History, University Honors

Niceville

Zachary Wendt, Actuarial Science, Honors in the Major

Nokomis

Thea Janes, Editing, Writing & Media, University Honors

North Miami Beach

Nicole Shaked, Criminology, University Honors

Orlando

Katherine Kerrane, Cell and Molecular Neuroscience, Outstanding Senior Scholar

Samhita Surapaneni, Cell and Molecular Neuroscience, University Honors

Jamesha Turner, Psychology, University Honors

Oviedo

Parker North, Clinical Professions, University Honors

Palm Beach Gardens

Aliah Bangash, Biological Science, University Honors

Palm Harbor

Kieran Stenson, History, Outstanding Senior Scholar

Panama City

Nicholas Langford, International Affairs; Political Science, Honors in the Major

Alexis McCall, Literature, Media & Culture; Humanities, University Honors

Morgan Noles, Psychology, Honors in the Major

Pensacola

Morgan Boesel, Political Science, University Honors

Port St. Lucie

Ajay Nehaul, Political Science, Honors in the Major

Saint Augustine

Ellis Rainey, Criminology, Honors in the Major

Saint Johns

Manaal Saqib, Clinical Professions, University Honors

Sarasota

Natalija Nikolic, Civil Engineering, Honors in the Major

Emma Robbins, Music, Outstanding Senior Scholar

Raleigh Waldin, Interdisciplinary Social Science, University Honors

Seminole

Jewel Lester, Biological Science, University Honors

Sneads

Annabella McDaniel, Editing, Writing & Media, University Honors

Saint Petersburg

Lark Stafford, Creative Writing, University Honors

Stuart

Emily Osborn, Communication Science and Disorders, Honors in the Major

Tallahassee

Taylor Haworth, Instrumental Music Education, University Honors

Jack Roseman, Finance, University Honors

Anthony Sorial, Exercise Physiology, University Honors

Tamarac

Marissa Vargas, Digital Media Production, University Honors

Tampa

John Dibbs, Biological Science, University Honors

Erika Higgins, Marketing, University Honors

GEORGIA

Dunwoody

Kylie Lorden, International Affairs, Honors in the Major

Roswell

Lea Serrano, Behavioral Neuroscience, University Honors

MASSACHUSETTS

Pepperell

Alison Roush, International Affairs; Linguistics and Languages, University Honors

MISSOURI

St. Louis

Grant Hays, Actuarial Science, University Honors

NORTH CAROLINA

Raleigh

Haydn Hubbard, Creative Writing, Honors in the Major

NEW JERSEY

Montville

Anna Gromadzka, Environmental Science & Policy, University Honors

NEW YORK

Long Beach

Adrian Lujambio, Finance, University Honors

PENNSYLVANIA

South Williamsport

Olivia Turner, Biological Science, Honors in the Major

TENNESSEE

Hilham

Dakota Nivens, Interdisciplinary Social Science, Honors in the Major

WASHINGTON

Renton

Kylie Wasisco, Biochemistry, University Honors

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Florida State University will greet an outstanding group of incoming freshmen this fall as the new academic year begins Monday, Aug. 26.

The Class of 2028 joins the Florida State family as the university continues to build upon an excellent record of student success. FSU’s latest graduation and retention rates set school records last year: 75 percent of FSU students graduated in four years, and 96 percent of freshmen returned for their sophomore year.

FSU received 79,400 applications for about 6,000 spots in its first-year class. The students admitted this year continue to rank among the most academically distinguished in the university’s history, with an average GPA of 4.4, a combined SAT score of 1390 and an ACT composite score of 31.

The admitted class includes students from all 50 states, all 67 Florida counties and 48 countries. Outside of Florida, the top five states for newly admitted students are Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Texas and Illinois.

Twenty-one percent of admitted students are among the first in their families to attend college or university. The five most popular majors for incoming freshmen are business, engineering, biological science, exploratory and chemistry/biochemistry.

Other notable items for the upcoming academic year include:

• The university’s graduate programs will enroll about 3,000 new students this fall.  The university received over 18,500 applications, which is the third-highest number ever for graduate applications. FSU’s graduate enrollment is now close to 10,000 students across all programs.
• FSU hired more than 200 new faculty for the second consecutive year.
• This year, 6,707 students will live in one of FSU’s 18 on-campus residence halls. University Housing offers a variety of living styles for undergraduate and graduate students.
• The Presidential Scholars Program — the premier undergraduate merit scholarship at FSU — will welcome its largest cohort of first-year students in history with 60 students joining the program this fall, increasing from 48 in last year’s class.
• The university’s competitive Honors Program is up to more than 750 students, well above last year’s first-year cohort of 600.
• Welcome FSU is offering an array of events and activities to kick off the fall semester through Friday, Aug. 30. These events are a great way for students to learn about campus resources, ways to get involved and how to make FSU and Tallahassee home.
• The FSU football team opens its season at the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, against Georgia Tech at 12 p.m. Saturday, Aug 24.

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Craig Filar, a seasoned faculty director for several Florida State University programs that serve academically high-achieving students, has been tapped for an expanded role as associate dean of the Honors, Scholars, and Fellows House (HSF). 

In his new position, Filar will oversee the University Honors Program, Presidential Scholars Program and Office of National Fellowships (ONF), all housed in the centrally located building on Honors Way, facing Landis Green. 

 “Dr. Filar has demonstrated exceptional leadership for our students in various capacities for over 15 years, and we’re grateful he can bring that wealth of experience to this expanded role,” said Joe O’Shea, associate provost and dean of Undergraduate Studies. “Our students will benefit from Dr. Filar’s established history of mentorship and his talent for building transformative student programming.”  

Filar is currently the director of the Presidential Scholars Program, which is FSU’s premier undergraduate merit scholarship for those who show exceptional leadership skills and potential, and director of ONF, which helps students throughout the process of applying for national fellowships and grants. Filar served on the board of directors for the National Association of Fellowship Advisors, including as vice president from 2017-2019 and president from 2019-2021.  

As associate dean, Filar will oversee the University Honors Program as well. He has previously served three times as interim Honors director.  

“Our students will benefit from Dr. Filar’s established history of mentorship and his talent for building transformative student programming.”

– Joe O’Shea, associate provost and dean of Undergraduate Studies.

O’Shea says that having one associate dean oversee all three programs brings cohesion to three related groups within HSF and will help academically motivated students connect more easily with the kinds of resources and opportunities that can propel them toward success. Other universities operate on a similar model.  

Filar’s new role comes at a time of investment and expansion for all three programs. The Presidential Scholars Program boasts its largest incoming class yet, with 48 students, and the Honors Program grew to over 600 new students following unprecedented numbers of applications. To accommodate the larger class, Honors faculty were added, and all three programs have seen growth in their staff and other resources to meet the increased level of student involvement.   

With a growing student population, new faculty members teaching innovative courses and more opportunities to engage with the community of scholars, this is an exciting time to be a high-achieving student at FSU, according to Filar. 

“I’m thrilled to contribute to this dynamic phase of growth in HSF, as we aim to draw some of the state’s and country’s most intellectually curious and creative students to our campus,” Filar said. “We are here to meet the academic, professional and personal needs of an increasingly talented student body at FSU and help them recognize their potential as the leaders of tomorrow.”   

For more information, visit hsf.fsu.edu and honors.fsu.edu. 

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During her time at Florida State University, recent alumna Ansley Bilyeu’s passion for human rights led her to numerous leadership, service and pre-health opportunities that prepared her for a career in medicine.

Bilyeu says it was the community-oriented feeling and opportunities on campus that drew her to choose Florida State for her degree in International Affairs.

“It was a combination of the head and heart that led to me choosing FSU,” she said. “I felt invited to join a larger family and experienced an eagerness from a college to pour into its students.”

As a graduate of the Honors Program, Bilyeu was a member of the first-ever Honors Cohort for Human Rights, where she and four other students represented FSU at the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights. This experience allowed Bilyeu to meet, learn from and present to human rights experts from all over the world.

“My experience with this cohort only further amplified my passion for being an individual of change in the human rights sector and inspired in me a multitude of thoughts on how to do so,” she said.

With this and previous experiences in mind, Bilyeu was eager to utilize the resources FSU provided to further her work toward human rights solutions. In 2015, she traveled to Landanai, Tanzania for two weeks providing medical care to the community and forming friendships along the way. She returned to Tanzania in 2019, where she realized the discrepancy of access to human rights that exists globally.

Her experience in Tanzania inspired Bilyeu to consider human rights research that led her to establish “The Maji Project,” a recognized student organization at FSU that serves to fight the global water crisis and its consequences through a variety of fundraising, educational and awareness initiatives.

While at Florida State, Bilyeu was involved in numerous organizations on campus, including Chi Omega sorority, the Migrant Refugee Education Alliance and the Medical Response Unit. Off campus she was involved with the organization Neighborly, where she served as a medical advocate accompanying local refugees to medical appointments.

With interests in global and public health, Bilyeu complemented her degree in International Affairs with minors in Spanish and chemistry. While pursuing a career in the medical field, she will teach English in Spain for seven months.

“Above all, I hope that I have been impactful through the simple, individual interactions and relationships built with classmates, sorority sisters, coworkers, professors and everyone in between, as it is in these moments that I feel we are really able to change the worlds of others,” she said.

What does The Maji Project do and how was it starting a student organization?

While leading The Maji Project as president, our organization successfully executed multiple local community clean-ups, bi-monthly meetings with guest speakers from around the country, collaborative awareness events with organizations across campus, as well as a fundraising initiative allowing for the delivery of 120 portable water filters to Landanai, Tanzania. It has been a learning experience, a joy and an honor to lead a group of students and faculty willing to come together for one another’s passion and leave equally as inspired to create positive change within the human rights/environmental area as well as in relation to their own personal passions.

What led to your major and minors?

As a pre-medicine student with interests in global and public health, I wanted to enhance my theoretical, future career in medicine with an educational background that supported these specific interests. The diverse coursework offered through an International Affairs major looked as though it would do exactly this! I chose a concentration in Spanish due to my interest in the language and hope to be better equipped to serve Spanish-speaking patients in the future. Lastly, my minor in chemistry came from fulfilling pre-medicine coursework and inadvertently introduced me to several of my favorite undergraduate courses.

How has Neighborly allowed you to give back to the community and work towards human rights solutions?

Neighborly is a “relationship-based poverty relief organization… whose mission is to deinstitutionalize charity by helping you become friends with those at a disadvantage.” Through serving as a medical advocate by accompanying refugees to medical appointments, as well as on the “breakfast brigade” where we serve and eat breakfast with day laborers in Tallahassee, Neighborly has been pivotal in affirming the power of service that encourages mutual friendship rather than one-way charity. Furthermore, Neighborly has solidified that serving and being with others is where I find my greatest purpose and fulfillment.

What leadership opportunities have you had and why is leadership important to you?

Through my leadership opportunities such as president of The Maji Project, vice president of Chi Omega Sorority and member of the Honors Cohort for Human Rights, I have tried my absolute best to reveal the strengths of others and encourage them in their own interests. My hope is that through my leadership, others will be inspired to lead and a ripple effect will be seen among the FSU community.

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Florida State University will welcome another impressive freshman class to campus this fall as the new academic year starts Monday, Aug. 28.

“We are so excited to welcome this freshman class to Florida State University,” said President Richard McCullough. “FSU is a wonderful and beautiful campus — very friendly and welcoming — and we’re so proud of our freshman class that’s coming here this year. They are among the best students that have ever entered Florida State University, and we are here to make sure that each and every one of them experiences student success at the highest level.”

The new class joins the Florida State family as the university continues to set ambitious goals around research and academic excellence, student success, entrepreneurship and innovation.

FSU received close to 75,000 applications for a first-year class of about 6,000 students. This year’s admitted students continue to be among the university’s most academically accomplished. They boast an average GPA of 4.4, 1350 total SAT score and an ACT composite score of 30.

The admitted class includes first-year students from all 50 states, all 67 Florida counties and 61 countries. Outside of Florida, the top five states for newly admitted students are Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Texas and Illinois.

Twenty-two percent of admitted students are among the first in their families to attend college or university. The five most popular majors for the incoming freshmen are business, engineering, biological science, exploratory and psychology.

FSU is committed to investing in growing its programs for high-achieving students, and that investment is paying off. The Presidential Scholars Program — the premier undergraduate merit scholarship at FSU — will welcome its largest cohort of first-year students in history with 48 joining the program this fall. In addition, the university’s competitive Honors Program has grown exponentially from about 400 incoming freshmen to a class of about 600.

The university’s graduate programs, which are among the best in the nation, will enroll approximately 3,100 new graduate students this fall, representing a 12 percent increase. Graduate applications were up 33 percent for the new academic year with the university receiving a record 23,035 applications. FSU’s graduate enrollment is now close to 10,000 students across all programs.

This semester, FSU also welcomes one of its biggest cohorts of international students with approximately 600 undergraduate and graduate students arriving in Tallahassee. The group hails from 74 nations with India, China and Panama as the three most-represented countries.

Other notable items for the upcoming academic year include:

• More than 220 new faculty in disciplines across the university are joining FSU this fall.
• This year, 6,700 students will live in FSU’s 18 on-campus residence halls. University Housing offers a variety of living styles for undergraduate and graduate students.
• Welcome FSU is offering an array of events and activities to kick off the fall semester through Sunday, Sept. 3. These events are a great way for students to learn about campus resources, ways to get involved and how to make FSU and Tallahassee home.
• CANCELED – New Student Convocation has been canceled due to weather. Continue to check alerts.fsu.edu for updates regarding campus closures.
• The FSU football team opens its season in Orlando against LSU at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. Students are invited to a watch party in the lower level of the Student Union, featuring multiple viewing screens, giveaways and food.

The post FSU’s talented freshman class ready for fall semester appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University awarded honors medallions to 38 high-achieving graduates during a July 31 ceremony in the Alumni Center Ballroom.

The FSU Honors Program supports the efforts and talents of the university’s most intellectually curious students who have the potential, dedication and drive for creating change.

The ceremony included remarks by Craig Filar, associate dean of undergraduate studies and interim director of the Honors Program; Joe O’Shea, dean of undergraduate studies; Isha Chekuri, Outstanding Senior Scholar; and Julie Decker, president and CEO of the FSU Alumni Association.

To learn more about the Honors Program, visit honors.fsu.edu.

The breakdown of the honors awardees is as follows:

24 graduates, University Honors Program
Earned at least 18 honors points in fulfillment of the FSU Honors Program requirements.

7 graduates, Honors in the Major Program
Completed an honors thesis in fulfillment of the requirement for the distinction “with honors” in their major department.

1 graduate, Dual Honors
Completed both the University Honors Program and the Honors in the Major Program.

6 graduates, Outstanding Senior Scholar
Completed both the University Honors Program and the Honors in the Major Program, with a 3.9 cumulative GPA or higher.

The honors medallion recipients, along with their hometowns, award designations and academic majors, are listed by state and city below.

Colorado

Fort Collins

Kira Johansen, International Affairs, Outstanding Senior Scholar

Florida

Apollo Beach

Kendall Walter, Psychology, Honors in the Major

Apopka

Gabriela De Jesus, Biological Science, Honors in the Major

Cooper City

Skylar Scorca, Computer Science and Mathematics, Outstanding Senior Scholar

Daytona Beach

Ashlyn Yancey, Psychology, University Honors

Groveland

Levi Payne, Biological Science, Honors in the Major

Hialeah

Marina Nunez, Biological Science, University Honors

Jacksonville

Isha Chekuri, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Outstanding Senior Scholar
Andrew Moore, Finance & Marketing, University Honors
Ryan Tevlin, Sport Management, University Honors
James Zittrauer, English: Editing, Writing and Media, Dual Honors

Lake Placid

Lizbeth Martinez Gonzalez, Political Science & International Affairs, University Honors

Lake Worth

C’yi Baptiste, Psychology, University Honors

Marianna

Brayden Harrell, Political Science, University Honors

Miami

Catalina Caceres, Criminology, University Honors
Melanie Leon, English: Literature, Media, and Culture, University Honors
Nicholas Losa, Nursing, University Honors
Samantha Martinez, Human Development and Family Science, University Honors
Josephine Sullivan, Exercise Physiology, University Honors
Isabella Timiraos, Advertising, Honors in the Major

Naples

Annabelle Chapman, English: Editing, Writing, and Media & Sociology, University Honors

New Port Richey

Carlos Campos, History, Honors in the Major

Niceville

Macray Simmers, Biological Science, University Honors

Orlando

Brenna Gilliam, Italian Studies & Classical Civilization, Honors in the Major

Palm Beach

Eva Hasenhuttl, IMS: Clinical Professions, Outstanding Senior Scholar

Sanford

Nathaniel Hochuli, Biological Science & Food and Nutrition Science, Outstanding Senior Scholar

Satellite Beach

Aoife Trotter, Psychology & Social Work, Outstanding Senior Scholar

Tallahassee

Rozheen Bahmani, Biological Science, University Honors

Tampa

Olivia Kasper, International Affairs, University Honors
Zawadi Njogu, International Affairs, University Honors
Samantha Salisbury, Biological Science, University Honors

Venice

Kaylee Cumbo, IMS Clinical Professions, University Honors

West Palm Beach

Inayat Sood, Biological Science, University Honors

Winter Park

Maia Ruiz, General Music & Biological Science, University Honors

Winter Springs

Priscilla Reyes, Public Health, University Honors

Hawaii

Honolulu

Michelle Evangelista, International Affairs & Information Technology, Honors in the Major

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Ethan Yoon, Political Science, University Honors

China

Jinan, Shandong

Ruihui Xu, Mathematics & Actuarial Science, University Honors

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