Students and alumni earned prestigious honors recognizing excellence in research, scholarship, leadership, creativity, and public impact

During the 2025–2026 academic year, Harvard College students and recent alumni received national, international, and institutional honors recognizing outstanding scholarship across disciplines ranging from engineering and public policy to the humanities, creative arts, and global service.

"These awards recognize not only exceptional intellectual achievement, but also our students’ deep commitment to contributing to the world around them,” said Danoff Dean of Harvard College David Deming. “Across every field of study, Harvard students continue to pursue ambitious scholarship and meaningful public impact with ingenuity and purpose."

This year’s award recipients were recognized through some of the world’s most competitive scholarship and fellowship programs, as well as through longstanding Harvard College prizes honoring academic excellence, creativity, character, and service.

National and International Awards

Churchill Scholarship Program

One Harvard College student was named a Churchill Scholar this academic year. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious postgraduate STEM scholarships in the world, the Churchill Scholarship supports one year of master’s study in science, mathematics, and engineering at Churchill College, Cambridge. The award provides support and opportunities for additional research funding while recognizing exceptional promise in scientific research and innovation.
 

Fulbright Student Program

Twenty-three Harvard College students have been awarded the Fulbright for the 2026-2027 competition. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program supports international exchange through opportunities for research, teaching, and graduate study abroad. Recipients will pursue projects spanning disciplines including public health, education, the humanities, social sciences, and scientific research while fostering cross-cultural collaboration and public engagement around the world.
 

Gates Cambridge Scholarship 

Three Harvard College students and one recent alum were selected as Gates Cambridge Scholars. Established through a donation from the Gates Foundation in 2000, the program funds postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge for students committed to improving the lives of others through leadership and scholarship. The highly selective award recognizes future leaders whose work demonstrates exceptional intellectual ability, social commitment, and global impact.
 

Goldwater Scholarship

Three Harvard College students were named Goldwater Scholars. The nationally competitive award recognizes undergraduates pursuing research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering who demonstrate exceptional potential for future scientific achievement. Goldwater Scholars are widely regarded as among the nation’s most promising young researchers in STEM fields.
 

Hertz Fellowship

Two current Harvard College students and two alumni received 2026 Hertz Fellowships. The fellowship supports doctoral study in applied science, engineering, and mathematics through up to five years of funding and lifelong professional mentorship. Hertz Fellows join a distinguished community of innovators and scientific leaders advancing research in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and quantum science to biotechnology and national security.
 

James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program 

One Harvard College student and one recent alum were selected for the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The one-year fellowship places emerging scholars in research assistant roles supporting work in international affairs and public policy. Junior Fellows contribute to research on global governance, regional security, economic policy, democracy, and diplomacy alongside leading policy experts.
 

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

Two current Harvard College students and eight alumni were named 2026 Knight-Hennessy Scholars. Stanford University’s multidisciplinary graduate fellowship program supports emerging global leaders pursuing graduate education across the university while emphasizing leadership development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public impact. Scholars will pursue advanced study across fields including medicine, law, engineering, education, business, and the humanities.
 

Marshall Scholarship 

Four Harvard College students and one recent alum were named 2026 Marshall Scholars, giving Harvard more Marshall Scholars than any other institution this year. Established by the British Parliament, the scholarship funds graduate study in the United Kingdom for outstanding American students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and ambassadorial potential. Marshall Scholars pursue advanced study across disciplines while strengthening intellectual and cultural ties between the United States and the United Kingdom.
 

Projects for Peace

One Harvard College student received a Projects for Peace grant this academic year. Administered through Middlebury College, the program provides funding for students to implement grassroots initiatives that address the root causes of conflict and promote peace around the world. Recipients design and carry out projects that foster community engagement, dialogue, and cross-cultural understanding through locally driven approaches to peacebuilding.
 

Rhodes Scholarship

Eight Harvard College students received Rhodes Scholarships for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. Among the oldest and most prestigious international fellowships, the fully funded award seeks to develop public-spirited leaders committed to international understanding and service. Rhodes Scholars are selected for their outstanding academic achievement, leadership, character, and commitment to addressing global challenges.
 

Schwarzman Scholars Program

Six Harvard College students and three recent alumni were selected as Schwarzman Scholars. The program supports a one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing and prepares future leaders through international study, leadership training, and cultural immersion. Schwarzman Scholars pursue coursework and collaborative experiences focused on geopolitics, economics, public policy, and international relations in an increasingly interconnected world.
 

St. Andrew’s Society of New York Scholarship

One Harvard College student received a Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York Scholarship this academic year. Since 1960, the scholarship program has supported graduate study and cultural exchange between Scotland and the United States through funding for American students pursuing advanced study at Scottish universities. Harvard nominates one student annually for the highly selective award, which recognizes academic excellence and strengthens intellectual and cultural ties between the two countries.
 

Yenching Scholars at Peking University

Two Harvard College students were selected as Yenching Scholars at Peking University. The distinguished fellowship supports an interdisciplinary master’s program in China Studies and seeks to build stronger connections between China and the wider world through academic exchange, leadership development, and cross-cultural dialogue. Once formally admitted in June, scholars pursue graduate study in Beijing with an interdisciplinary curriculum and global cohort experience.

Harvard Academic and Community Honors

Banga Social Innovation Thesis Awards

Eleven Harvard College students received Banga Social Innovation Thesis Awards. The awards recognize seniors whose theses or capstone projects propose innovative solutions to pressing social, environmental, and global challenges.
 

Detur Book Prize

Harvard College recognized 147 sophomores for exceptional academic records during their first three semesters with Detur Book Prizes, one of the College’s oldest academic honors. The prize recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement prior to concentration declaration and awards recipients a book of their choice.
 

General Education Prize

Five Harvard College students received 2026 Gen Ed Prizes for original reflective or creative works exploring how Gen Ed courses transformed their understanding of urgent questions and connections between academic study and the world beyond the classroom. Established by the Program in General Education, the prize recognizes exceptional student work across a wide range of written, artistic, and multimedia formats.
 

Thomas Temple Hoopes Prize 

Seventy-one Harvard College seniors received Thomas Temple Hoopes Prizes for outstanding scholarly work and research completed under faculty supervision. The prizes recognize exceptional academic achievement across the humanities, sciences, arts, and social sciences.
 

Wendell Prize

One Harvard College sophomore received the Jacob Wendell Scholarship Prize. The award recognizes the student identified as the most promising and broad-ranging scholar in the sophomore class.
 

Departmental and Concentration Awards

In addition to major national accolades and College-wide honors, Harvard College students earned more than 185 departmental and concentration prizes recognizing excellence in research, creative work, leadership, performance, and scholarship across disciplines. Awards this year honored outstanding work in areas ranging from anthropology, astronomy, classics, and cognitive science to African and African American studies, visual arts, creative writing, dance, theater, and music.

Across every discipline and field of study, this year’s award recipients reflect the depth of Harvard College students’ intellectual curiosity, creativity, and commitment to meaningful impact. Their achievements were supported by faculty mentors, academic departments, fellowship advisers, and offices across the College, including the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF), which supports students pursuing research, scholarships, and postgraduate opportunities around the world. Together, these honors highlight the vibrant culture of scholarship and public engagement that defines the Harvard College community.

Additional information about Harvard College student prizes and departmental awards is available through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Prizes Office.