Ten outstanding students chosen for UO’s most generous and prestigious scholarship 

August 6, 2020

This summer, the university announced its newest class of Stamps Scholars for fall 2020. Six exceptional high school graduates from Oregon and four from other states have been chosen through a rigorous selection process.

Provided by the Stamps Scholars Strive Foundation in partnership with the UO, the award is the university’s most prestigious and generous.

“We’re delighted to welcome this remarkable group of first-year students,“ said Roger Thompson, vice president for student services and enrollment management. “It’s been quite a year for them, and they’ve earned it.

“For these high-achieving students, the final classes of high school were remote. Prom, commencement, and many other traditions were either cancelled or offered as a virtual alternative. By accomplishing so much during this unprecedented time, they have demonstrated remarkable resilience. I’m proud to call them Stamps Scholars, and I wish them all the best.” 

Including these 10 newest students, a total of 35 Stamps Scholars will attend the UO during the upcoming academic year. So far, 17 have graduated since the program began at the UO in 2013. 

The Stamps Foundation partners with just 35 universities nationally, and the UO was the first West Coast school to be chosen for this honor. Recipients are selected based on their academic achievements, demonstrated leadership, innovation, perseverance, and volunteer experience. 

In 2018, the UO’s Stamps Scholarship program expanded from five to 10 awards annually, with approximately half the awards granted to in-state students and the rest to students from outside Oregon. 

Oregon resident Stamps Scholars receive UO resident tuition, fees, room, and board for four years of undergraduate study. Out-of-state recipients receive non-resident tuition and fees. All recipients benefit from enrichment funds to be used over four years to help pursue study abroad, unpaid internships, or other experiences. 

Stamps Scholars receive up to $125,000 in scholarship money over the course of their college careers. In addition to financial support, they are guaranteed admission to the Robert D. Clark Honors College and join a national cohort of Stamps Scholars. Every other year, the Stamps Scholars National Convention offers Stamps Scholars from around the country opportunities to learn, share ideas, and showcase research and special projects. The Stamps Scholars Strive Foundation covers the costs for students to attend.

Over the summer, the UO’s 10 incoming Stamps Scholars will have virtual opportunities to get to know each other and pose questions to UO staff members using Zoom. They will also benefit from peer-to-peer mentorship, learning from more experienced Stamps scholars how to navigate the university and take advantage of all the opportunities available to them.

—Story by Ed Dorsch BA ’94, MA ’99

Welcome to our newest Stamps Scholars 

	Nayantara Arora  Portland, OR Intended major: exploring  Nayantara graduated from St. Mary’s Academy. She is the founder and copresident of Youth Advocates for Immigrants and Refugees, a nonprofit that bridges the cultural and communication gaps between immigrant and refugee youth and nonimmigrant and refugee youth in Portland. Active in music and dance for more 15 years, she plays the violin and practices Bharatnatyam, a classical south Indian dance. This summer, she is learning Arabic through the U.S. State Department's selective National Language Initiative for Youth program.
	Reilly Gault  Springfield, OR Intended major: music Reilly graduated from Thurston High School. An avid musician, Reilly shares his musical talents by volunteering at his church and at the local hospital. He was the section leader for his high school percussion section and drumline. When not involved in music, Reilly participates in goalball, a Paralympic sport for the blind and visually impaired and is a speed cuber, solving various types of Rubik’s cubes as fast as possible.
	Ruby Gibson  Scappoose, OR Intended major: exploring Ruby graduated from Scappoose High School, where she was involved in Future Business Leaders of America as well as student government as an officer for public relations and fundraising. Ruby was a member of the wrestling team and led an effort to establish the first state-recognized women’s wrestling team at her high school. Ruby works at a local restaurant, is a peer tutor, and volunteers with the Red Cross.
	Camila Hess-Neustadt Flagstaff, AZ Intended major: psychology Camila graduated from BASIS Flagstaff charter school. She was president of the Speech and Debate team, president of the Grand Canyon Youth club, captain of the cross country team, and is an avid rock climber. Camila volunteered at a refugee camp on the island of Lesvos, Greece, and as a paralegal and Spanish-English translator at a free legal clinic serving immigrant families in her community.
	Charlotte Kaman San Rafael, CA Intended major: architecture Charlotte graduated from Terra Linda High School, where she was a student in the Marin School of Environmental Leadership. She is a classically trained clarinetist, a STEM camp counselor through the American Association of University Women, and a working group member of the City of San Rafael’s Climate Change Action Plan. She was founder, CEO, and head jeweler of Swirl Jewelry, a sustainable business that sold handmade jewelry made from recycled electrical wiring.
	Eliana Kertzner Portland, OR Intended major: product design Eliana graduated from Cleveland High School, where she was captain of the speech and debate team. She was active in theater, directing one full-length play and teaching summer camps and theater classes to children. Eliana spent most of the 2019–20 school year volunteering with Gamma, a local women’s rights group in Ecuador.
	Zachary Pennel  Blachly, OR Intended major: physics Zachary graduated from Triangle Lake High School where he was the president of the FIRST Robotics team and volunteered as a big buddy mentor to first-grade students. Zachary played first trumpet in advanced band and jazz band, and was active in school athletics as a team member of both varsity track and field and basketball. He also works on his family’s ranch.
	Kyle Trefny San Francisco, CA Intended major: environmental studies Kyle graduated from Ruth Asawa School of the Arts. He cofounded and co-led the Asawa SOTA Environmental Club, empowered his peers with art and activism, and improved green practices on campus. He served as Senior Class President and sustainability director. Kyle backpacked the 230-mile John Muir Trail, raised thousands of dollars for endangered species, and volunteered at the San Francisco Zoo. He capped off high school with an animated short film for 2020 graduates that was featured on YouTube's national commencement alongside Michelle and Barack Obama.
	Hadley Weyerich Kirkwood, MO  Intended major: biology Hadley graduated from Kirkwood High School. She was a business editor and a member of the editorial board for the Pioneer yearbook, founder of her equestrian center's recycling program, and founding member of KHS Cares, a volunteer organization that researches ways to meet community needs. Hadley was a four-year varsity letter winner through the United States Equestrian Federation, and has worked with riders with special needs through an equine assisted therapy organization.
	Jackie Zhang Portland, OR Intended major: economics Jackie graduated from Sunset High School. Active in her high school’s varsity mock trial team, Jackie was also the cofounder and copresident of Lingua Franca, an English as a second language peer tutoring program that connects native English-speaking students to ESL students. She started her own business, Terracotta Tea, which sells hand-blended traditional Chinese medicine wellness teas and she won startup funding at a young entrepreneurs’ investor panel.