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Scholar Spotlight

Tier One Scholars are high-achievers and their scholarship allows them to pursue their goals without limitations. Read more about their achievements and experiences in research, study abroad, leadership, extracurricular activities, and other accomplishments.

Vidha Dixit Bauer Ambassador Vidha Dixit: Spreading Positivity through Business - Since arriving on campus in the Fall of 2013, Marketing and Management double major Vidha Dixit has strived “to have a positive impact on everyone I meet and to help them find success.” more...
Viviane Nguyen Viviane Nguyen: Making her Mark in Fashion and Entertainment - Tier One Scholar Viviane Nguyen has spent her college career developing and showcasing her creativity. An ambitious junior majoring in Marketing, Nguyen keeps herself engaged through involvement in campus organizations and independent projects. more...
James Wang Passion for Environmental Conservation Earns Vanessa Alejandro First-ever Udall Scholarship for UH - With a deep love of nature and a passion for animal and environmental conservation, college sophomore Vanessa Alejandro has been chosen as the first-ever Udall Scholarship winner from the University of Houston (UH).more...
James Wang Trenton Fuller: Taking the Lead and Embracing the College Experience
Hard-working, optimistic and outgoing describe Tier One Scholar, Trenton Fuller.  For the junior biology major and Spanish minor, life as a college student has been adventurous and all but mundane.He deals with the stress that comes from being a full-time student by staying active in a number of organizations and by serving fellow Cougars through various leadership positions on campus. more...
James Wang Sarah Stanley: Trailblazing a Path to Graduate School through Early Research
An early start in research prepared Tier One Scholar and graduating senior Sarah Stanley to successfully garner national research opportunities and admissions to renowned graduate programs. As a college freshman, Stanley knew she wanted to continue studying mathematics in graduate school. more...
James Wang James Wang: Excelling in Academics and Army ROTC leadership
Veteran’s Day is a time to honor those who have made the selfless commitment to serve our country and protect our citizens. This Veteran’s Day, we salute Tier One Scholar James Wang for his excellence as a student and serviceman for the United States of America. more...
Ton-La Ton La: Excellence in Academics Leads to Achievement
Sophomore Tier One Scholar Ton La is the definition of a true spotlight. In high school, La was a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, and continued his membership when he discovered he could remain involved with the organization in college as a student council representative. more...
katie-teeters: Embracing Opportunities and Giving Back Katie Teeters: Embracing Opportunities and Giving Back
Katie Teeters had an eventful summer. From studying abroad in Italy to pursuing research on Liberal Nationalism, Teeters took full advantage of the unique benefits afforded to her by the Tier One Scholars Program.more...
pessarra-nick Nick Pessarra: Abroad in France
Nicholas Pessarra’s big city dreams came true after being admitted to the University of Houston as a Tier One Scholar where he went on to travel to lavish Angers, France — completing a minor in French — while currently studying creative writing and advertising.more...
Toalt Lauren Lauren Tolat: Success in the Lab
Lauren Tolat is a sophomore Tier One, Honors College student studying pre-pharmacy with interests in law and a potential PharmD/JD program, who discovered the rewards of biomedical research that could someday lead to new therapies to prevent heart disease with support from the Tier One research stipend.more...
Roya Zamani Roya Zamani: Exploring Medical Research
Research has piqued Roya Zamani’s curiosity for most of her life. "I have always been interested in the process itself and how studying small pathways can help us with understanding larger phenomena." Roya was admitted to UH in fall 2010 through the Houston Premedical Academy (HPA), a competitive program offered through the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions. more...
Waqaar Diwan Waqaar Diwan: Discovering the Value of Research
In his first year of college, Waqaar Diwan, business major and biology minor, was determined to focus on his studies and adjust to life at the University of Houston, “I had just started college, my goal was to get all A’s, I didn’t care about anything else.” more...
Sally Wong Sally Wong: First Tier One Scholar Graduate
When Lai “Sally” Wong crosses the commencement stage as the first University of Houston Tier One Scholar, it will be the next chapter of a story that began 12 years ago in Hong Kong more...
Cassie Gianni Cassie Gianni: Summer Abroad in Colombia
A 2010 Tier One Scholar, has difficulty remembering a time when she was not fascinated with going abroad. “I think the thought entered my mind in the third or fourth grade,” she says, musing laughingly, “I went to a really diverse elementary school and was randomly put into the international students’ class.” more...