Mortar Board National College Honor Society Awards Graduate Fellowships to 10 Outstanding Members

Record-Breaking Application Pool Highlights Prestige of National Fellowship Program

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mortar Board National College Honor Society, the premier honor society recognizing college juniors and seniors for exemplary scholarship, leadership, and service, has selected 10 members to receive its 2026–2027 graduate fellowships and recognized 4 additional students with Honorable Mention distinction.

Started in 1941, the Mortar Board Fellowship Program offers fellowships ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. Mortar Board has awarded more than $1.5 million in fellowship support to over 600 members pursuing advanced degrees and professional studies.

“Mortar Board Fellows exemplify the very best of scholarship, leadership, and service,” said Kirsten F. Fox, Ph.D., Executive Director of Mortar Board. “These students have already distinguished themselves as leaders on their campuses and in their communities. We are proud to support them as they continue their education and prepare to make meaningful contributions in their professions and society.”

The Society received a record 91 fellowship applications this year. Recipients were selected through a rigorous national review process evaluating academic achievement, leadership, service, graduate study plans, and their potential for future impact.

The 2026–2027 fellowship recipients will pursue advanced degrees in biological sciences, education, chemical engineering, economics, law, materials science and engineering, medicine, pharmacy, public health, school counseling, and veterinary medicine.

2026–2027 Fellowship Recipients

• Olivia Beckett (The Ohio State University, 2024) – Juris Doctor, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Purdue University Barbara Cook Fellow
• Samuel Buss (University of Nebraska–Kearney, 2023) – Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Ruth Weimer Mount Fellow

• Dillon Cook (The University of Alabama, 2024) – Master’s in School Counseling and Workforce Education, University of Georgia, Vivian Townsend Bish Fellow

• Lauren Ellis (University of Washington, 2024) – Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Mortar Board Diane Selby Fellow
• Ava Heintzelman (University of Montana, 2024) – Master of Public Health, University of Montana School of Public and Community Health, Mortar Board National Foundation Fellow

• Minxing (Mike) Liu (Wake Forest University, 2025) – Master’s in Quantitative Economics, University of California, Los Angeles, Ramier + Katherine Wills Coleman Fellow
• Jennifer Lundgren (San Diego State University, 2023) – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Ellen North Dunlap Fellow
• Shelby Morlock (Texas Tech University, 2023) – Juris Doctor, Texas Tech University School of Law, Mortar Board National Foundation Fellow

• Jason Packard (Purdue University, 2024) – Master’s and Ph.D. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Yale University, Washington State + Zelma Patchin-Oklahoma State Fellow
• Chanasei Ziemann (University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2023) – M.S. in Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology with a concentration in Biology Education, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Mortar Board Diane Selby Fellow

In addition to the fellowship awardees, four applicants were recognized with Honorable Mention distinction and received a $1,000 award.

• Katherine Gray (The University of Alabama, 2025) – Juris Doctor, The University of Alabama School of Law

• Dev Mehta (University of South Alabama, 2024) – Doctor of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine
• Lily Nichols (College of Charleston, 2025) – Juris Doctor, Wake Forest University School of Law
• Mishaal Omer (Case Western Reserve University, 2023) – Doctor of Medicine with a concentration in the Humanities Pathway, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Mortar Board’s fellowships are made possible through endowed funds and annual gifts, many of which honor distinguished leaders whose vision, service, and generosity have shaped the Society’s history and future. Additional information about the fellowship recipients, the named fellowship funds, and the application process is available at mortarboard.org/fellowship-application/.

About Mortar Board National College Honor Society

Founded in 1918, Mortar Board National College Honor Society recognizes college juniors and seniors for excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. With 236 chapters nationwide, Mortar Board empowers students to make a lasting impact on their campuses and communities while fostering lifelong connections among members. Mortar Board is a proud member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS).

For more information, visit mortarboard.org or contact mortarboard@mortarboard.org.