Meet the Clemson University National Scholars
National Scholars are an academically and geographically diverse group. They have majored in disciplines from all of Clemson's academic colleges. And they have come from as close as Greenville, S.C., and as far away as Tirana, Albania.
Just as they were selected in part for their commitment to leadership and service, Scholars continue to be involved in extracurricular activities at Clemson. In fact, most hold leadership positions in campus organizations.
National Scholars also work closely with Clemson professors through the Creative Inquiry program and in conducting other research.
Meet our Scholar cohorts (organized by the year they were admitted to Clemson University) below:
2025 National Scholars
Kaia Dunford
Hometown: Princeville, HI
Major: Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Minor: Chinese Studies
Visit Kaia's LinkedIn page
Owen Frasor
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Majors: Political Science and Performing Arts (Music)
Minor: Italian Studies
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Robert Johnson
Hometown: Indian Land, SC
Majors: Psychology and Computer Science
Minors: Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics
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Jill Parreno
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
Major: Nursing
Minors: Public Policy and Public Health Certificate
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Elizabeth Polatty
Hometown: Greenwood, SC
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Spanish
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2024 National Scholars
Nadia Chestnut
Hometown: Columbus, GA
Major: Data Science
Minors: Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy
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Adam Gibson
Hometown: Arlington, VA
Major: Data Science
Minor: Artificial Intelligence
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Fred Lucca
Hometown: Santo Ângelo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Major: Management (Business Analytics)
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Sarah Pacer
Hometown: Hudson, OH
Major: Nursing
Minor: Public Health Certificate
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Elizabeth Perkins
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Major: Language and International Business
Minor: Political Science
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Meridee Ritzer
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
Major: Chemistry
Minors: Geology and Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
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Ella Thompson
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Major: Economics
Minor: Sustainability
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2023 National Scholars
Gretchen Highberger
Hometown: Bettendorf, IA
Major: Environmental Engineering
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Carley Hitzelberger
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Major: Nursing
Minors: Spanish and Public Health Certificate
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Shayar Joshi
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Major: Packaging Science
Minor: Engineering Leadership
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Summer Marold
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
Majors: Language and International Business
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Briggs Murray
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Majors: Political Science and French
Minors: East Asian Studies and History
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Tulsi Patel
Hometown: Simpsonville, SC
Major: Philosophy
Concentration: Medicine, Health and Human Values
Minor: Public Policy
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Claudia Portocarrero
Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: Language and International Health
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2022 National Scholars
Sara Alkelani
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Majors: Political Science and Sociology
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Caleb Cayouette
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Major: Economics
Minor: Financial Management and Nonprofit Leadership
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Owen Michael Eastman
Hometown: Ridgeside, TN
Majors: History and Economics
Minors: English, Legal Studies and Philosophy
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Malia Fairbanks
Hometown: Champaign, IL
Major: Computer Information Systems
Minors: Cybersecurity and Business Administration
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Eliza Haines
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Minors: American Sign Language Studies and Electrical Engineering
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Rebecca Han
Hometown: Bluffton, SC
Major: Financial Management
Minor: Computer Science
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Daisy Ryan Hutnik
Hometown: Hopewell, NJ
Majors: Economics and Political Science
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Elijah Austin Wilbanks
Hometown: Shelby, NC
Major: Industrial Engineering
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