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March 15, 2017
2017 Thomas J. Watson Fellows
New York, New York (March 15th, 2017) – Continuing its tradition of expanding the vision and developing the potential of remarkable students, today the Watson Foundation announced the 49th class of Thomas J. Watson Fellows. The Watson provides a year of unparalleled international exploration for select graduating college seniors in any field.
This year's class comes from 6 countries and 21 states. They'll travel to 67 countries exploring topics ranging from pediatric cancer treatment to citizen journalism; from animation to autonomous vehicles; from immigration to island communities; from megacities to wildfire management. “As we approach a half century of making big bets on remarkable students, we are thrilled to announce this year’s class,” said Chris Kasabach, Executive Director of the Watson Foundation. "We work with a terrific group of partner institutions and these fellows show the enormous depth, width and creativity of our next generation of leaders.”
Watson awardees come from private liberal arts colleges and universities across the United States. From the program's 40 partner institutions, 149 finalists were nominated to compete on the national level from which 40 Fellows were selected. Fellows will receive $30,000 for twelve-months of travel and college loan assistance as required.
About the Watson Foundation
In 1961, Jeannette K. Watson created the Thomas J. Watson Foundation in the name of her husband, Thomas J. Watson Sr, best known for building IBM. Through one-of-a-kind programs, the Foundation provides fellows with cultural, professional and personal opportunities that challenge them to expand their vision, test and develop their potential, and build the confidence and perspective to do so for others. In 2015, the Foundation organized as a public-facing foundation, unifying its programs under the Watson Foundation.
About the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
Over 2,800 Watsons have been named since the fellowship's start in 1968. A Watson Year provides fellows with an opportunity to test their aspirations, abilities and perseverance through a personal project that is cultivated on an international scale. Watson Fellows have gone on to become international influencers in their fields including CEOs of major corporations, college presidents, Emmy, Grammy and Oscar Award winners, Pulitzer Prize awardees, artists, diplomats, doctors, faculty, journalists, lawyers, politicians, researchers and inspiring leaders around the world.
2017 THOMAS J. WATSON FELLOWS
Asia Alman, Vassar College
Kelvin Ampem-Darko, Wheaton College
Aziz Anderson, Swarthmore College
Zakiyya Ashe, Berea College
Tanner Byer, Pomona College
Julie Byrnes, Vassar College
Amal Cheema, Wellesley College
Sheila Chukwulozie, Amherst College
Nina Finley, Whitman College
Michaela Fisher, Wesleyan University
Mariely Garcia, Bowdoin College
Kaara “Kava” Garcia Vasquez, Macalester College
Joseph Genualdi, Lawrence University
Liam Grace-Flood, Wheaton College
Tyler Harvey, Rhodes College
Tomal Hossain, Amherst College
Harry Johnson, Bard College
Kate Joss, Davidson College
Riley Konsella, Union College
Oleksander (Sasha) Kuzura, Grinnell College
Imani Lewis-Norelle, Earlham College
Lauren Li, California Institute of Technology
Carson Lyness, University of Puget Sound
Mark McAlister, Sewanee: University of the South
Rachel McKay, Davidson College
Ngan “Jasmine” Nguyen, Macalester College
Kirk Pearson, Oberlin College
Samuel Perkins, Whitman College
Alejandra Wheelock Rodriguez, Grinnell College
Dani Roomes, Bryn Mawr College
Emily Ross, Carleton College
Jordana Rubenstein-Edberg, Bard College
Dina Sinclair, Harvey Mudd College
Angelica Spearwoman, University of Puget Sound
Julia Thomas, Scripps College
Evelin Toth, Middlebury College
Paulus Van Horne, Oberlin College
Madhuri Venkateswar, Rice University
Jin Jin Xu, Amherst College
Allison Yu, Rice University