USF Judy Genshaft Honors College

USF is proud to announce that five Bulls have been selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program this year!

The The Fulbright Program is the world's largest international exchange program. Through the U.S. Student Program, American citizens have the opportunity to study, conduct research, or teach English in more than 140 countries around the globe.

Please join us in congratulating this year's recipients:

🌍 Afreen Khan, USF College of Arts and Sciences
Graduate Study Grant — Turkey

🌍 Janaki Menon, USF College of Public Health
Research Grant — India

🌍 Elisabeth Parker, USF College of Arts and Sciences
Research Grant — Sri Lanka

🌍 Lizt Pena, USF College of Arts and Sciences
English Teaching Assistantship — Spain

🌍 May Spinney, USF College of Arts and Sciences
English Teaching Assistantship — Taiwan

Over the past 10 years, USF has produced 61 Fulbright student awardees. Each year, recipients are honored with a commemorative medallion during a ceremony hosted by the USF Judy Genshaft Honors College and USF World, highlighting USF's commitment to international exchange and global engagement.

To learn more about these students and the Fulbright program, visit the USF Office of National Scholars website.

Hello everyone! My name is Sophia Alvarez and I am a criminology and psychology major and an incoming law student.

I will be starting the Lex Fellowship Pre-Law Program in Genoa, Italy. During this program, I will learn about the Italian legal system, meet legal professionals, and experience life abroad while preparing for a future career in law.

Today, I will be taking over Honors social media and sharing my travel day and the start of my experience in Italy. I will be posting updates throughout the day and answering questions about the Lex Fellowship (which Honors students can join next year), studying abroad, and law school.

I am excited to share this journey with you all!

The Judy Genshaft Honors College is proud to welcome the 2026 Wilcox Scholars!

This spring, the program welcomed six driven first-year students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving their communities. As emerging leaders in public service, the Wilcox Scholars have the opportunity to explore careers in public policy, civic engagement, and global affairs. 🌎⚖️

Read more about this year's cohort on the Honors website.

Hello! My name is Soham Shirolkar. I’m a rising senior majoring in biomedical engineering and in the Honors College. I’m spending this summer working in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program at the University of Florida. I'm a part of the Summer Neuroscience Internship Program (SNIP) at the McKnight Brain Institute, working as a research intern in Dr. Bedenbaugh’s lab.

My work combines computational and behavioral neuroscience, including developing a behavioral analysis toolkit for the lab, assisting with imaging, and helping run behavioral experiments.

Today, I will be taking over the Honors social media to answer any questions about my research, the summer program, and show you what may day looks like here! Check out the Honors Facebook stories for updates!

Hello everyone! My name is Zulaika Perez and I am a third year chemical engineering major in the Honors College.

I am currently on the Honors Germany Innovation in Engineering program at the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück, Germany. I am at the end of week five of the six-week program going on our last weekend excursion of the trip. Today, I will be doing the Instagram takeover for our excursion in Cologne and answering questions about this program and my German adventures.

Make sure to follow me on the JGHC story!

The Judy Genshaft Honors College was proud to gather scholars, supporters, and friends at this year’s Holcombe Scholars Brunch — a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the lasting impact of generosity and community.

Established by Brad and Terry Holcombe, the Holcombe Scholars Program continues to provide full financial support, mentorship, and resources that empower first-generation students to thrive at the University of South Florida.

We are grateful for the continued support that makes this program possible and look forward to celebrating the Holcombe Scholars Program’s 20th anniversary next year!