Bringing dreams to life

The awards have names like Fulbright and Goldwater. They recognize excellence across academic disciplines and confer honor and resources on their recipients, along with opportunities to travel and pursue further research. They are intended for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni across all fields, disciplines and backgrounds, but many potential recipients find the process of applying for them to be daunting.

Luckily for Ohio University students, they don’t have to do it alone. Celebrating 25 years in operation, the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards (ONCA) was established to support students as they pursue the awards that offer so much renown and opportunity.

Jennifer Ayarkwa (B.A. ’22) can attest to the office’s value.

“Working with ONCA made me feel supported,” she says. “Most students don’t even know this office exists and it is such an important resource. As long as you have a vision, passion, and drive, ONCA will help you bring your dreams to life.” 

Ayarkwa majored in Spanish and worked with ONCA twice: once as a senior, when she applied to teach English in Spain as part of the North American Culture Assistants (NALCAP) program, and again as a new alumna, when she applied for a Fulbright U.S. Student ETA award. Both applications were successful, and she is now teaching English in Cali, Columbia. 

The first step to applying for any type of award is to know that it exists. Dr. Christopher Lewis, ONCA’s director, says one of the office’s functions is to introduce students to opportunities that they may not have known about previously. 

“Part of ONCA’s goal and function is to spread the word about those opportunities, because most of us come to college and are not aware of these opportunities,” Lewis says. “They aren’t front and center necessarily, so a major goal of mine is to get the word out and to make sure all of the many talented students who would be great candidates for these awards are aware of them.” 

Lewis utilizes his background as an English professor to help students write long-form and short-answer essays for the applications as well. He works with about 100 students each year. 

“The office is actually helping usher people through the writing and revision process necessary to compose something strong and that each applicant feels confident in,” he explains. “That’s a major function, and so students and applicants know that they’re not going through this alone.”  

The first step is to reach out—students can email Lewis to get the ball rolling. He meets with each student who expresses interest in applying. Since each award has a different application process, the office’s dedicated and thorough expertise is crucial for those applicants.

“I’m happy to provide feedback and writing through conversation. I’m happy to put applicants in touch with past students and alumni who have received the awards and to put them in touch with faculty and staff members who have mentored past applicants and recipients,” Lewis says. 

In addition to one-on-one meetings with students, Lewis offers workshops and discussions throughout the school year. During the workshops, students have the opportunity to discuss materials, hear from past recipients, and learn from each other. 

“Even if you’re not applying this year, if it’s something you’re considering for the future, I would recommend attending one or two of those workshops and discussions throughout the year,” Lewis says. He adds that gaining familiarity with the process can set one up for success in the future.

Lewis also speaks to individual classes or student groups. 

Luca Gee is an art history major with minors in studio art and African American studies. They worked with ONCA on a successful scholarship application for the Fulbright U.K. Summer Institutes and found the experience to be supportive and helpful. 

“I didn’t expect just how accommodating [ONCA] would be,” Gee says. “The number of revisions we shared back and forth must have taken them so much time, but they were happy to help. Dr. Lewis made time in his schedule to run through my interviews with me. I am so grateful for how much time they must have spent helping make my application the best it could be.”  

Getting a head start can make all the difference for busy students who want to add an award to their repertoire. Lewis suggests that students plan to spend between two and six months on an application. He points out that allowing more time for an application means the task will feel less daunting and leave you feeling more positive about the experience, especially if you’re squeezing in the application process around busy school, work, or internship schedules. 

Lewis commits to one meeting with each student he works with, but he says some students prefer to schedule more. ONCA spends as much time as each student needs and meets them where they are: whether they know exactly which award they want to pursue or they’re just getting started. 

Gee says students should consider reaching out to ONCA even if they just have one or two questions.

Ayarkwa, writing from the second successful international placement ONCA helped her achieve, has some universal advice.

“Do not be nervous. It is more than okay to ask for help. The world is yours and ONCA will help you to achieve your dreams,” Ayarkwa says.