5 William & Mary Students Win Top National Scholarships

Five students from William & Mary have earned prestigious national and international scholarships this spring, beating out thousands of competitors to secure opportunities that will take them around the world.

Adelia Purcell, a junior studying government with a focus on human rights and democracy, became William & Mary's 13th Truman Scholar. She was selected from 781 candidates representing 305 colleges and universities across the country.

Currently studying abroad in Valencia, Spain, Purcell has already built an impressive resume in public service. She worked as a legislative intern for U.S. Senator Chris Murphy and researched democratic erosion and digital governance at William & Mary's labs.

This summer, she'll join the Brennan Center for Justice as a democracy intern in New York City. The scholarship will fund her graduate education and connect her with a network of changemakers passionate about public service.

Aleksandr Kuzmenchuk, a 2024 graduate, won a Schwarzman Scholarship for a fully funded master's program in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The competitive program, created in 2015, builds future leaders through intensive study and cultural immersion in China.

Lena Bullard earned a James C. Gaither Junior Fellowship to work as a research assistant at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The government and French studies major brings experience from working on land rights in Laos and studying at Oxford and the Sorbonne.

Cedrick Dimaranan, a biology major passionate about environmental health, won a Udall Scholarship for his work studying how environmental pollutants cause disease. Jack Breuhaus secured a Critical Language Scholarship to immerse himself in language study in South Korea.

The Ripple Effect

These five scholars represent more than individual achievement. They're joining networks of thousands of alumni dedicated to tackling the world's biggest challenges, from democratic backsliding to environmental pollution to international cooperation.

Each student worked with William & Mary's College of Arts & Sciences Advising Center to craft their applications. Their success shows what happens when passionate students get the support they need to pursue ambitious goals.

The scholarships will fund graduate education, research positions, and cultural immersion experiences that would otherwise be out of reach. More importantly, they're connecting these young leaders with mentors and peers who share their commitment to positive change.

From Beijing to New York City, these five are heading out to make their mark on the world.