About Us

Office of National Scholars Fund for Excellence

The Office of National Scholars supports students on the path to apply for some of the most prestigious scholarship programs in the world. To prepare for nationally competitive awards, students engage in various forms of intellectual and professional development outside the classroom, including research, study abroad, internships, and more.

Gifts to the ONS Fund for Excellence support:

Research Conferences Fees

Attending domestic and international conferences to present research and network with peers and professionals is vital for students intending to compete for prestigious awards.

Lodging and Travel

Support for transportation and lodging allows students to enhance their academic portfolios through conferences, interviews, site visits, and other professional development opportunities.

Supplies for Research or Community Engagement Projects

The ONS Fund for Excellence empowers students to think outside the box and launch new projects, such as community gardens, art collections, or educational workshops, by providing financial support for necessary resources, supplies and tools.

GIVE TO ONS FUND

THE ONS FUND FOR EXCELLENCE IN ACTION:

Avani standing at entrance to Johns Hopkins

Avani Sanghvi
With the help of the ONS Fund, Avani attended the 2025 Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium at Johns Hopkins University. Avani's research, "Identity Becomes Rather Than Is: Challenging Internalist Views on Identity in Sartre's Dirty Hands and Shamsi's Home Fire" was accepted for the session on literary examinations of identity.

Kobe standing in front of research poster

Kobe Phillips
“I have had amazing opportunities to travel across the country to present my research at national conferences on multiple occasions. Each experience is unique, allowing me to connect with both students and professors who resonate with my work in ecology and design. Additionally, these funds have helped me pursue interests outside of normal pathways, like Design Programs at UC Berkeley, which aided in my discovery of new ecological techniques for research!”

kira standing in front of poster

Kira Ruiz-Houston
Kira attended the 2024 National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Long Beach to present on her research in sustainable technological advances in drug discovery with the help of the ONS Fund for Excellence.