Physics and Astronomy graduate student among new 2025-2029 Self Graduate Fellows

LAWRENCE – Twenty doctoral students have been selected to receive the University of Kansas’ prestigious Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year. This incoming group of fellows is the largest cohort in the history of the Self Graduate Fellowship, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 220 students throughout the program’s history. In fall 2025, the fellowship reaches 57 total current fellows, making it the largest fellowship size ever.

The Self Graduate Fellowship’s mission is to identify and recruit exceptional doctoral students who demonstrate the promise to make significant contributions to their fields and society as a whole. The total value of the four-year doctoral fellowship exceeds $225,000.

The fellowship is a four-year package awarded to incoming and first-year doctoral students who demonstrate leadership, initiative and passion for achievement.  The fellowship covers full tuition and fees, provides graduate research assistant support of $38,000 per year, a $12,000 professional development award, $5,000 start-up award, $3,000 textbook and technology award, and a robust professional development program. 

The Fellow Development Program provides general education and training in communication, management, innovation, policy and leadership to assist Self Graduate Fellows in preparation for future leadership roles. The development program complements the specialized education and training provided in doctoral programs. 

The late Madison and Lila Self launched and permanently endowed the Self Graduate Fellowship in 1989, motivated by their strong belief in the vital importance of developing leadership for tomorrow. Madison Self was a 1943 KU graduate in chemical engineering.  Lila Self attended KU with the Class of 1943.

The new Self Graduate Fellows for the 2025-2029 cohort: 

• Raechel Camones, of Kansas City, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in biology health science, Missouri Western State University; first-year doctoral student in the interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical sciences, KU Medical Center.
• Rachel Cionitti, of Olathe: bachelor’s degree in physics & astronomy, KU; expected master of science in physics, University of Missouri-Kansas City; incoming doctoral student in physics & astronomy.
• Alaura Custard, of Overland Park: bachelor’s degrees in physics and mathematics, KU; expected master of science in geology, KU; incoming doctoral student in geology.
• Danielle Dotson, of St. Joseph, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering with emphasis in biochemical engineering, minor in biomedical engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology; first-year doctoral student in bioengineering.
• Anna Ferkul, of Shakopee, Minnesota: bachelor’s degree in microbiology, minor in psychology, KU; first-year doctoral student in the interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical sciences, KU Medical Center.
• Jennifer Greer, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland: bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Mississippi State University; incoming doctoral student in chemistry.
• Kenzie Grover, of Lodi, Wisconsin: bachelor’s degree in biology, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point; master of science in biology, Northern Michigan University; first-year doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology.
• Dustin Hall, of Wellsville: bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, University of California, Irvine; incoming doctoral student in aerospace engineering.
• Alex Hey, of West Chicago, Illinois: bachelor’s degree in zoology and fish, wildlife and conservation biology, Colorado State University; expected master of science in ecology & evolutionary biology, KU; incoming doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology.
• Sydney Houser, of Topeka: bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology-neuroscience, University of Nebraska–Lincoln; first-year doctoral student in pharmaceutical chemistry.
• Chad Lakin II, of Springfield, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Missouri State University; first-year doctoral student in chemistry.
• Jared Melendrez, of Hacienda Heights, California: bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, California State University San Marcos; incoming doctoral student in the interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical sciences, KU Medical Center.
• Jasmine Perea, of Seward, Alaska: bachelor’s degree in environmental public health, Alaska Pacific University; doctoral student in environmental and water resources engineering.
• Rene Sabala, of Brawley, California: bachelor’s degree in chemistry, California State University, Chico; incoming doctoral student in chemistry.
• Claire Sabolay, of Belleville, Illinois: bachelor’s degree in chemical & petroleum engineering, KU; first-year doctoral student in chemical & petroleum engineering.
• Kit Savoy, of Olathe: bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, minors in chemistry and theater, KU; incoming doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology.
• Connor Sullivan, of Overland Park: bachelor’s degree in computer science, KU; first-year doctoral student in electrical engineering & computer science.
• Amina Tbaba, of Wichita: bachelor’s degree in chemistry, California State University, Long Beach; first-year doctoral student in neuroscience.
• Makayla Williams, of Muskogee, Oklahoma: bachelor’s degree in anthropology, minor in sociology, Augustana University; first-year doctoral student in anthropology.
• Emily Winnicki, of Medina, Ohio: bachelor’s degree in anthropology and biology, minor in history, The College of Wooster; incoming doctoral student in anthropology.