We believe in guiding undergraduate and graduate students towards their academic, professional and personal goals. We believe in the core values of FGCU promoting global citizenship, public service, scientific advancement, and academic excellence.
Connect With OCF?
Make an appointment with the OCF Director (Dr. Peker) or contact the Honors College.
Contact Dr. Hilal Peker
OCF Spotlight
Maya participated in an REU funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF-REU program is highly selective and offers a hands-on approach to learning.
Maya, a Bioengineering student, worked on research with Dr. Mathew Kuttolamadom at Texas A&M University in Summer 2024.
TEAN Global Opportunity Full Ride Scholarship'24
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Emily Valdovinos received the TEAN Global Opportunity (GO) Full Ride Scholarship.
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She received the Gilman Scholarship, Perez Family Scholarship, Global Learning Grant (earned twice for study abroad to South Korea 2023-2024 and Global Medical Brigade 2024-2025).
- She was also supported by the Honors Development Fund.
- She received a total of approximately $20, 000 in awards and scholarships which she intends to use for her study abroad program and graduate studies.
Fulbright Award'24
- Cassandra Casadevalle is a finalist for the English Teaching Assistants (ETA) program to teach English in Colombia.
- Hannalori Thress is a semi-finalist for the ETA program to teach English in South Korea.
Peace River Audobon Scholarship'25
- Brianna Valdes is the recipient of the Peace River Audobon Scholarship for Environmental Studies.
Gilman Scholarship'24
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Lizbeth Mendez received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Scholarship) in May 2024, and the Perez Family Scholarship that she used to fund her study abroad program.
- She also received multiple awards such as Global Learning Grant, and the TEAN World Strides Semester Partnership Scholarship.
- She received approximately $4,000 to fund her academics at FGCU.
Dr. Hilal Peker, Director of the Office of Competitive Fellowships, has played a crucial role in fostering my personal and academic growth by guiding me through competitive application processes.
Brianna Valdes is a Marine Science major, with a minor in Climate Change. She is working with Dr. James Douglass on a research project involving FGCU's artificial reef called Kimberly's Reef. She will be presenting their overall data analysis at the 53rd Benthic Ecology Conference in Mobile, Alabama.
Brianna is currently working on her scientific diving license at FGCU in pursuit of working out in the field and collecting data at the reef.
Casandra is now in Bogota teaching English at a local school and enjoying the cultural enrichment and opportunities Fulbright provides her.
Casandra Casadevalle, an FGCU Psychology graduate who double-minored in Gender Studies and Race and Ethnic Studies and received guidance at OCF for her application for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Program in the Fall of 2023. Dr. Peker prepared Casandra with her mock interviews and best practices.
Dr. Peker helped me to research and apply for scholarships to make my study abroad experience affordable.
Emily Valdovinos is applying to be an English language teaching assistant in South Korea, seeing it as an opportunity to further the experience of “becoming one with the community” that she got during her stay. Pohlman says she hopes to return to Spain because she also feels that there’s still much of the culture and history to explore.
Valdovinos, who grew up speaking English and Spanish, said she has always had an interest
in languages. She picked South Korea for her semester abroad because she wasn’t familiar
with the culture and “wanted to explore individualistic versus collectivistic cultures.”
FEATURED ARTICLE
Goldwater Recipients
Three Florida Gulf Coast University students were awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious undergraduate scholarship, committed to developing the next generation of researchers in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. In 2020, FGCU junior Alex Marsh and sophomore Grace Anderson were recognized as Barry Goldwater Scholars. Recker, a bioengineering major at FGCU with minors in biology and chemistry was named the 2021 Barry Goldwater Scholar.
SMART Fellowship
Jordan Cooyman received the prestigious U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Fellowship intended to attract and prepare some of the nation’s brightest future scientists. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Have Questions?
The Office of Competitive Fellowships is here to serve the entire FGCU student body. It is never too early to begin gathering information about different scholarships and fellowships. Our student support starts with a highly individualized exploratory session and continues through the application process.
Contact Us
The Office of Competitive Fellowships
Reed Hall 153
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, Florida 33965
