"I will be one of the first members of my tribe to pursue a PhD. I plan to reinvest my knowledge back into communities that have historically been and are still excluded from receiving higher education. " - Promising Scholar Jon Caponetto, Critical Sociocultural Studies in Education
Our learning, scholarship, and the impact of our innovations are bolstered by our graduate student diversity and excellence. This year the Division awarded 33 top incoming graduate students with Future Stewards and Promising Scholar Awards.
The Future Stewards Award provides an opportunity for the UO to work with the nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon, and Native American tribes that had traditional and customary tribal boundaries in parts of the state of Oregon or that ceded or reserved lands within the state of Oregon, to help make graduate education more accessible for their members. It is our shared hope that tribal members who earn graduate degrees at the University of Oregon will return home to become stewards of their communities who support their traditional culture, foster educational opportunities, and promote economic development.
The Promising Scholar Award is granted to exceptional incoming graduate students from diverse backgrounds to advance the excellence of our graduate programs and university learning environment. Since 2018, 248 graduate students, across 42 graduate programs from all UO schools and colleges, have been nominated and selected to receive this award. The scholarly focus of each award recipient tells a story of inspiration, persistence, and commitment to serving the common good.
Promising Scholar Tamaya Levy, Linguistics, is pushing forth efforts to recognize African-American English as a valid variety of language to affirm linguistic and cultural identities in the United States. Audra Johnston-Zamora, a Promising Scholar in Special Education, hopes to systematically (re)inspire educators and leaders to remind them of the critical role they play in loving and healing our children. She is motivated by her children and wants to remind foster youth that they matter.
The Division of Graduate Studies provides Future Stewards and Promising Scholars with a substantial financial award, network-building support, and training opportunities to support their professional goals and personal well-being. Faculty advisors of award recipients are also eligible for exclusive training opportunities to support their scholars.
- Story by Division of Graduate Studies
