W&M students, alumnus earn prestigious national, international scholarships

The awardees will soon be traveling to places like New York City, China and South Korea either to continue their education, immerse themselves in a new culture or broaden their understanding of their discipline.

Over the spring 2026 semester, four students and one alumnus have demonstrated what makes William & Mary the Alma Mater of the Nation.

Through dedication to their fields of discipline and a desire to make a difference across the world, they have earned five prestigious national and international scholarships and fellowships:

• Harry S. Truman Scholarship, awarded to Adelia Purcell '27
• Schwarzman Scholarship, awarded to Aleksandr Kuzmenchuk '24
• James C. Gaither Junior Fellowship, awarded to Lena Bullard '26
• Udall Scholarship, awarded to Cedrick Dimaranan '27
• Critical Language Scholarship, awarded to Jack Breuhaus '26

The awardees will soon be traveling to places like New York City, China and South Korea either to continue their education, immerse themselves in a new culture or broaden their understanding of their discipline.

All of the students worked through the College of Arts & Sciences Advising Center to apply for the opportunities. Their efforts coincide with many aspects of William & Mary's Vision 2026 strategic plan, including its Careers, Water and Democracy initiatives.

Harry S. Truman Scholarship

Created through an act of Congress and signed by U.S. President Gerald Ford in 1975, the Truman Scholarship is awarded to applicants who demonstrate a background in and plan for a career in public service. Scholars were selected from 781 candidates from 305 colleges and universities.

Purcell was named a 2026 Truman Scholar, representing William & Mary as one of 48 institutions to earn the scholarship this year. Currently studying abroad in Valencia, Spain, Purcell said that research has been a cornerstone of her academic experience. A junior studying government with a focus on human rights and democracy, she was a 2024-2025 Global Scholar for the Global Research Institute and a researcher with the Digital Inclusion and Governance Lab.

She has also worked on the United States Democratic Erosion Event Database and was a legislative intern for U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). This summer, she will be joining the Brennan Center for Justice as a democracy intern in New York City and is excited to enter public service in whatever form it may take after graduation.

"For me, receiving the Harry S. Truman Scholarship means the ability not only to continue my education but to enter a community of people who are passionate about creative positive change in the world," she said. "I feel so grateful to represent William & Mary as its 13th Truman Scholar and am so excited to continue to advocate for human rights and democracy with this fellowship."

Schwarzman Scholarship

The Schwarzman Scholarship is a one-year, fully funded master's program in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Created in 2015, the scholarship is designed to build a global community of future leaders through rigorous and innovative study, leadership development, and immersive learning across China.

Kuzmenchuk, who majored in international relations with a minor in data science, has a strong background in his field, interning at the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Center for Social and Economic Progress and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He also earned a Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Grant, was a Critical Language Scholar and completed a Pamela Harriman Foreign Service fellowship.

Kuzmenchuk aims to pursue a law degree in the coming years and work in public service in the long term.

"As a Schwarzman Scholar, I hope to use every opportunity to develop a deep empathy for how my fellow classmates see and interact with the world," he said. "I look forward to expanding my cultural understanding of China, taking Tsinghua law classes, preparing to launch my career and exploring academic and policy issues in international affairs from a new perspective. I also hope to eat well and travel as widely as I can."

James C. Gaither Junior Fellowship

Each year, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace offers one-year fellowships to graduating seniors uniquely qualified to serve as research assistants to Carnegie's senior scholars. Bullard, a government and French & Francophone Studies major, was selected through her extensive background in international work. She worked in Laos at a land rights NGO as a Freeman Fellow and through the 1693 Scholarship, was able to study abroad in both Paris and at the University of Oxford.

Bullard has also worked with the People Power Data Project at American University, researched with the Project on International Peace and Security (PIPS) with the Global Research Institute and has done work in the International Justice Lab. Through the fellowship, Bullard hopes to gain a deeper understanding of Africa's changing role in the international system and how human rights and critical mineral issues shape African politics.

"As a James C. Gaither Fellow, I am excited to work with the Africa Program's senior scholars and learn more about policy-focused research," Bullard said. "It is such a blessing to join a long line of PIPS alums who have received the Gaither Fellowship. I am so inspired by the work that they have done and am grateful for their mentorship during the application process."

Udall Scholarship

Dimaranan has always been interested in how mixtures of environmental pollutants interact inside the body and lead to diseases like cancer. A junior biology major and coastal & marine sciences minor, he will join a network of more than 2,000 other scholars and potential future colleagues similarly dedicated to environmental stewardship and public policy.

The Udall Scholarship Program identifies future leaders in environmental, Tribal public policy and Native health care fields. Dimaranan earned the scholarship in the environmental field.

Dimaranan isn't just a Udall Scholarship winner; he is also a Goldwater Scholar, Stamps 1693 Scholar and a Monroe Scholar. After he graduates, he plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. dual degree in environmental health. He credits authoring a $60,000 Green Fee initiative to upgrade the footpath to permeable pavement associated with the new pedestrian bridge as a key factor in earning the scholarship.

"I want to translate my research into meaningful changes that impact the local neighborhoods of the communities that struggle with environmental hazards, as the neighborhood is where health starts," he said. "Authoring the Green Fee proposal and becoming a Udall Scholar show how I have the skills to enact that change myself while inspiring others to do the same."

Critical Language Scholarship

A program of the U.S. Department of State, the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) provides immersive summer programs for undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages important to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

Breuhaus had a personal connection to seeking out the scholarship. Having a strong desire to reconnect with this Korean heritage, he applied for CLS to foster a deep understanding of a culture he loves and wants to explore further.

A double major in economics and public policy, Breuhaus has worked as a Global Research Intern, completing a project assessing the effectiveness of governmental climate resilience programs focused on water systems in Africa. He has a strong desire to pursue international development through governmental or NGO work, think tanks and research.

"I hope my language experience and cultural exchange through CLS will put me in positions where I'm able to collaborate with Korean institutions on issues like semiconductor manufacturing, shipbuilding and defense contracts," he said, noting they're "areas where the expertise of Korea is vital to U.S. national security and growth."

William Oster, Communications Specialist

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