Union students recently awarded national fellowships

A handful of students have recently been awarded highly competitive national fellowships or scholarships.

They join more than 150 Union students and alums who have received such honors over the past five years.

“Each of these students was selected for a hands-on opportunity in a field they are passionate about,” said Lynn Evans, director of Fellowships and Doctoral Pathways. “Though they applied for very different awards, they all share a desire to make an impact. Their respective fellowships are the next step for each toward creating the change or progress they want to see in the world.”

The latest group:

Ebyan Abshir '24

Hometown: Medford, Mass.

Major: Africana studies with Spanish and English minors

Activities: Co-president of Black Student Union, STEP lead mentor, Writing Center mentor and coordinator

Abshir was selected for the Judge Reginald C. Lindsay Fellowship by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. During a nine-week summer program, fellows intern in a judge's chambers and participate in courses that focus on legal research and writing. Fellows are assigned to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office or Federal Public Defender Office. Fellows also take part in a moot court competition before a federal judge.

Caitlin Boice '23

Hometown: Ellington, Conn.

Major: Interdepartmental major in English and Japanese with a minor in music.

Activities: Green House; Union College Choir; Zakuro Daiko, the Japanese Drumming Ensemble; Mountebanks, Theater and Dance Department costume shop

Boice was selected for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. She will help teach English in a Japanese school.

C'Lannye James '25

Hometown: Boston, Mass.

Major: Environmental chemistry

Activities: Co-ed Volleyball Club treasurer, Beekeeping Club Junior Hive captain, maple sugaring on campus

James was selected for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship. Scholars receive a two-year academic scholarship for their junior and senior years, paid summer internship opportunities and funding to participate in two national scientific conferences.

Sebastian Koch '23

Hometown: Tucson, Ariz.

Major: Electrical engineering, with minors in German studies and a Seward Organizing Theme in chemical engineering

Activities: President of German Club and Anime Club, co-chair of Beuth

Koch was selected for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) Fellowship. Seventy-five American students study, live and work in Germany for a year following graduation. CBYX fellows have the opportunity to pursue paid work or internships and live with hosts.

Caroline Monaco '25

Hometown: Ramsey, N.J.

Major: Double major in Environmental Science and French and Francophone Studies

Activities: Beekeeping Club secretary, volunteer and orientation leader for Accommodative Services Office, Ozone Café, French Club, Ceramics Club, Octopus's Garden. She also operates a jewelry business, Crafted by Caroline, with retail locations in Ramsey (The Mindful Cafe) and Schenectady (The Schenectady Trading Company).

Monaco was selected for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship. Scholars receive a two-year academic scholarship for their junior and senior years, paid summer internship opportunities and funding to participate in two national scientific conferences.