A fourth-year student double majoring in international studies as well as econometrics and quantitative economics, Christopher Oueis is becoming a well-known name across the University of South Florida. On top of getting involved with (and founding) on-campus student organizations, Oueis has made use of the Office of National Scholars (ONS) in order to be the recipient of three major scholarships, with more scholarships likely being awarded to him in the future. He has received the Gilman scholarship, been accepted into the Public Policy and International Affairs Program, and most recently has received the Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service scholarship.
The Gilman scholarship is offered to undergraduate Pell Grant recipients who desire to study abroad. The Public Policy and International Affairs program is a seven-week junior summer institute targeted toward rising seniors who want to pursue a master’s degree in Public Policy. Finally, the PBK Key into Public Service scholarship is an annual award with Oueis being just one of 20 awardees out of 700 applicants. The award includes a $5,000 scholarship and the opportunity to attend a conference in DC; through this scholarship, Oueis was able to meet fellow students with similar aspirations to change public policy and be involved in public affairs.
“These opportunities have helped me define what I want to do and what’s next for me,” said Oueis. “Although my direction is not as precise, these experiences have helped me tremendously find out what the next step could be.”
USF SUPPORT
Oueis became aware of these prestigious scholarships and national awards through his work with ONS, an on-campus resource that aids in matching students to scholarships and guides them through the scholarship application process.
For the Key into Public Service scholarship, Oueis had to prepare five essays, each highlighting his character and background, and why his ambitions would be a good fit for the scholarship. ONS helped him draft ideas for each prompt and edit his work.
Oueis implores fellow students to visit ONS on the second floor of the Judy Genshaft Honors College and become aware of all of the scholarship opportunities available to them. Many of the scholarships contain certain requirements of their applicants that ONS can help students understand and meet before they prepare their application materials and interviews.
Oueis wants to make known that ONS is not just a service for Honors students, but for every student at USF.
“Apply, apply, apply,” said Oueis. “This is the best thing you can do!”
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
Scholarships are an integral part of Oueis’s career goals, as he wants to attend graduate school and pursue a degree in development economics or development studies. Acquiring scholarships, networking, and internships are ways Oueis is spending his time in order to prepare for his future. One of the realities of pursuing a career in public policy, however, are unpaid internships. Oueis encourages students to still apply for these opportunities since the experience gained and contacts made as a result of these internships are priceless.
“These opportunities set the stage for you to find better ones, that are hopefully paid.”
Oueis’s experience includes being an analyst intern at the Defense Intelligence Agency, administrative policy intern at American Task Force Lebanon, a research intern for the American Foreign Policy Council, and a data analytics and international affairs fellow at Carnegie Melon University.
Oueis’s summer internship in Washington D.C. taught him how to budget his money so that he could perform his best at his internship.
“I know we are all students who are all broke,” Oueis said. “I had to work two jobs to cover my living expenses in DC. You will find a way.”
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Beyond internships, Oueis found a way to get involved through volunteering in his local community.
Oueis forged lasting friendships and contributed to fighting hunger in the Tampa Bay Area through Project Downtown Tampa. His volunteer group quickly became like “family” to him, and he was grateful to be able to tangibly contribute to public relief efforts and hear about the experiences of the downtown Tampa community.
“This was a very fulfilling opportunity, other than academics and socials, on a personal level, to learn how to keep this willingness to give,” said Oueis. “At the same time, I gained some beautiful and amazing friends at the association.”
Oueis moved to the US from Lebanon in 2021 and upon arriving at USF, desired to create a space where Arab and non-Arab students alike could bond over Arab traditions, food, and culture. So, he created something that hadn’t existed before and founded the Lebanese Student Association, where he served as treasurer. He also served as the Director of Middle Eastern Affairs for the John Quincy Adams Society at USF and was a member of the Dean’s Student Leader Society.
ADVICE TO FELLOW STUDENTS
Oueis advises fellow students to take advantage of the opportunities they have at USF to get involved, meet diverse people, and prepare for their careers. What he wishes he did when he was a first and second-year student is take advantage of the final projects that were built into his coursework.
“You have no idea how important these are down the road for publishing your work,” said Oueis. “Focus on those final papers you submit to your professors – for graduate school applications or even professor recommendations.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Oueis is still in the preparation process for his dream career of using big data to positively affect foreign policy at the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of International Affairs. He has recently applied to three scholarships intended to fund his graduate education, the Fulbright, Marshall, and Rhodes scholarships, and is continuing to network with other public figures and policy makers through internships and conferences. He is studying in Paris, France now and is taking master’s level courses in policy development.
Oueis’s ultimate goal involves changing the public perception of the Near East and Middle East through public policy.
“I want to change the way the world thinks about the Near East and Middle East region,” said Oueis. “From Iraq to Egypt to Lebanon, there have been so many civilizations and cultures, and there is so much more science this region has offered to the world than people know.”