We are pleased to announce that the following students have been named as the 2025 Kennedy Scholars and will receive a monetary stipend to go toward tuition:
Ashton Blake, International Relations with a minor in Latin American Studies
Caleb Rogers, Political Science and French Studies with a minor in Global Business & Literacy
Brendan Murphy, Philosophy and English with minors in Scandinavian Studies
Brynn Bennett, Political Science
Ciera Griggs, Linguistics and French Studies with a minor in Translation & Localization
Colleen Barnes, International Relations with a minor in Business
Ella Reynolds, Middle East Studies/Arabic with a minor in Global & Community Impact
Garrett Wride, Bioinformatics with minors in International Development and Middle East Studies
Leah Kay, Political Science with minors in Asian Studies and Korean
Lydia Rothas, International Relations with a minor in Spanish
Rachel Stark, International Relations and German Studies
Will Van Hoff, Economics with minors in Global Business & Literacy and Russian
These students were chosen because they embody the aims of the Kennedy Center; the award is named in honor of the Kennedy Center’s namesake, statesman David M. Kennedy, who served as Secretary of the Treasury, US Ambassador to NATO, and special representative of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Though recipients don’t have to be Kennedy Center majors and minors, special consideration is given to students with an international or global focus. For Ashton Blake, his Kennedy Center major is what made him decide to apply: “My major, International Relations, is housed within the Center,” he says, “and I thoroughly enjoy learning about global issues as well as interacting with professors, students, and advisement faculty there.”
Others were considering their future plans in deciding to apply. “I felt that the award would give me networking opportunities,” says Leah Kay, “and as I intend to apply to graduate school programs in International Studies, receiving this award will strengthen my applications.”
For Garrett Wride, an interest in international studies is a fundamental part of who he is. “Having been born in Brazil to a Canadian mother and an American father, I have triple citizenship,” he explains. “Not being able to identify with a single nationality has led me to be open to seeing the world as a shared space as opposed to a place to be competed for.” Further experiences with migrants in the US, as well as missionary work in Türkiye, led to an interest in migrant health, which has led him to minor in International Development and, eventually, to apply for the Kennedy Scholars award.
For these students, the award will play an important part in their future schooling and professional plans. “This will allow me to focus more exclusively on my schooling and will enable me to further immerse myself in political environments and opportunities,” Blake says.
For Kay, being a Kennedy Scholar opens up possibilities abroad. “This award is helping to fund the opportunity to study abroad in Korea this fall,” says Kay, who chose minors in Asian Studies and Korean because of her love of South Korea’s history and culture. “The program cost is around $11,000 and the awards stipend makes it possible for me to attend the program. The program is the first time I will have ever been to Asia and will give me opportunities to network in Asia and gain professional educational experience.”
Wride sees the value of the award in the coming year but also in the years to come: “I hope that my experience as a Kennedy Scholar next year will connect me with more students and professors at the Kennedy Center that can help me to continue to expand my world view and help me reach my goals in global health,” he says. “The award will also assist in allowing me to continue my involvement in organizations on and off campus, giving me valuable experience for my future career.”
Interested in the Kennedy Scholars program? Click here to learn more.