Fifth Year Scholars
Established in 1991 through a collaborative effort between students and faculty, the Fifth Year Scholar program offers Carnegie Mellon students a unique opportunity to broaden their intellectual pursuits beyond their standard coursework.
The program provides a tuition-free, $7,000 fellowship for a full fifth year of study. This enables students to engage in enriched educational experiences and contribute meaningfully to the CMU community through a community impact project. These projects merge academic pursuits with metacurricular involvement to address a campus need or fulfill personal and professional interests.
CMU benefits greatly from the additional year of contributions from these scholars who uphold a tradition of excellence.
Upcoming Information Sessions
- Monday, October 26, 2026 | 7 to 8 p.m.
Virtually via Zoom for Pittsburgh students -
Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 5 to 6 p.m.
In-person in the Cohon University Center, Dowd Room - Sunday, November 30, 2026 | 9 to 10 a.m.
Virtually via Zoom for Doha and Pittsburgh students
2026-2027 Fifth Year Scholars
Yee Kit Chan
Computer Science and Human-Computer Interaction
What led you to choose CMU?
Entering college, I knew that I wanted to have an impact, and that this impact would very likely be related to the intersection of humanity and technology. I also knew I wanted to explore new creative interests. CMU allowed me not to compromise.
What new avenues has the Fifth Year Scholar opportunity enabled you to explore?
Being a Fifth Year Scholar has afforded me the opportunity to add minors in Media Design and Societal & Human Impacts of Future Technologies, attend research conferences in Barcelona, Singapore, and DC, and establish the CMU Global Buddies initiative as an official student organization. On a personal level, it has also given me more time to explore - and set - standards and values for the rest of my life, which is only just beginning!
What quote best reflects your perspective on your education?
"What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" -- Mary Oliver
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars" -- Norman Vincent Peale
What is something surprising that people might not know about you?
I chose to be vegetarian at the age of two, and have been ever since.
Tatyana Cruz
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What led you to choose CMU?
I chose CMU because of its interdisciplinary nature as well as a strong engineering program. I wanted to be challenged and pushed as an engineer, but I also wanted to continue to explore my other interests outside of it such as philosophy and business.
What new avenues has the Fifth Year Scholar opportunity enabled you to explore?
The Fifth Year Scholar opportunity has enabled me to complete a minor in Ethics as well as do research in a lab in which I have incredible mentorship. The extra year has provided me the time to fall in love with learning again as well.
What quote best reflects your perspective on your education?
"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world." -- Dead Poets Society
What is something surprising that people might not know about you?
I’m really passionate about movies and film! I watch about 40 movies a year in theaters.
Harrison Marks
Film and Visual Media
What led you to choose CMU?
CMU is full of students who work hard with dedication towards the topics they care about. It's an environment that I wanted to embrace and be inspired by!
What new avenues has the Fifth Year Scholar opportunity enabled you to explore?
The Fifth Year Scholar has allowed me to embark on a supervised capstone project where I'll be developing and directing my own film! It's also allowed me to expand my podcast and establish it as a long-term resource for student life at CMU.
What quote best reflects your perspective on your education?
"Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature, but he is a thinking reed." -- Blaise Pascal
"Hard workers who do things they like are unstoppable." -- Tsubasa Yamaguchi
What is something surprising that people might not know about you?
I'm an uncle of two incredible nieces!
Samuel Tello
Math and Physics
What led you to choose CMU?
In the best way possible, I got the impression that it was a pretty nerdy school. I could just tell that it would be the sort of place where I'd find all kinds of people with my same sort of interests and hobbies. I came to learn that my impression was pretty spot-on, and I couldn't be happier with my decision.
What new avenues has the Fifth Year Scholar opportunity enabled you to explore?
Two years ago, when I applied to be a Fifth Year Scholar as a physics major, it seemed like a really great way to be able to stay a little longer and learn a bit more math and German. Between then and now, I realized that I actually really enjoy math. So much so that it ended up changing my plans quite a bit: I will now be applying to math grad programs instead of physics. Really, without the extra time to freely explore math and to actually complete a math degree, it's unlikely I would have found out that it was a better fit for me!
What quote best reflects your perspective on your education?
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -- Will Durant
What is something surprising that people might not know about you?
I was actually born and raised in Costa Rica :)
Fifth Year Scholar Alumni
Class of 2026
Carmen Hagerty - Civil Engineering
Deya Liao - Computer Science, Film and Visual Media
Lucia Shen - English
Isabella Sierra - Business and Film Studies
Class of 2025
Class of 2024
Martha Spletzer - Chemistry
Class of 2023
Olivia Cunnally - Film, Visual Media, and Art
David Peebles - Music
Class of 2022
Shahmeer Ahmad - Information Systems
Mariyam Amir - Information Systems
kai ell denazen - Student Defined Major
Robin Kuo - Materials Science and Engineering
Carolyn Youstra, Mechanical Engineering
Class of 2021
Nahin Khan - Biological Sciences
Rie Ohta - Computer Sciences
Julia Scherb - Global Studies
Class of 2020
Cory Bird - Biological Sciences
Miranda Mlincek - Biological Sciences
Joyce Wang - Computer Sciences and Art
Class of 2019
Shreya Desikan - Biological Sciences and Psychology
Andrew Edwards - Art
Russell Holbert - Music Performance
Joseph Paetz - Electrical and Computer Engineering
Class of 2018
Aliaa Essameldin - Computer Science
Michael James - Drama
Lauren Valley - Art
Nick Wilson - Electrical and Computer Engineering
Class of 2017
Jamie Earnest - Art
Rachel Freer - Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
Angela Ng - Civil Engineering
Todd Medema - Technology, Entrepreneurship and Design
Nitsan Shai - Electrical and Computer Engineering
Class of 2016
Jack Montgomery - Information Systems
Erik Pintar - Electrical and Computer Engineering
Minnar Xie - Humanities and Arts
Class of 2015
Josh Claudio - English
Zhijun Huang - Economics and Mathematical Sciences, Statistics and Computational Finance
Sejal Popat - Art, Logic and Computation
Class of 2014
Afnan Fahim - Computer Science Major, Business Administration Minor
Nick Hurt - Business Administration Major, Film and Media Studies Minor
Class of 2013
Class of 2012
Jessica Dickinson Goodman - Ethics, History and Public Policy with Vocal Performance Minor
Rachel Inman - Industrial Design with Business Administration Minor
Class of 2011
Keghani Kouzoujian - Computer Science
Raedun Knutsen - Architecture and History
Luther B. Young III - Industrial Design
Class of 2010
Eric W. Barndollar - Music Composition and Computer Science with Music Technology and Conducting Minors
Bradley Hall - Mechanical Engineering with an Industrial Design Minor
Ryan Woodring - Fine Art with French and Francophone Studies Minors
Class of 2009
Mary Grace DeForest - Operation Research and Statistics
George Diabes - Chemistry, Hispanic Studies, and Business Administration
Class of 2008
Alicia Pompei - Communication Design with a concentration in Business Management
Classes of 1992-2007
2006-2007
Darbi Roberts
Rose Lapka
Mike Sczerban
Clayton Barlow-Wilcox
2005-2006
Nurveen Marwah
Mark Egermann
Diane Loviglio
2004-2005
Tara Gilbreath
Andrew Widdoson
Roger Ma
Ashok Kanagasundram
Carissa Sain
2003-2004
Robin Hewlett
Lara Panis
Rebecca Deustch
2002-2003
Lisa Podgurski
2001-2002
Marcus Louie
Chris Noser
Bill Kofmehl
2000-2001
Jean Vettel (H&SS, Professional Writing)
Anne Ray (H&SS, Creative Writing, History)
Elisabeth Nadolny (MCS, CIT, Biological Science, Chemical Engineering) Ignacio Filipinni (CFA, Industrial Design)
Amanda Kraus (H&SS, Social History)
Paul Jacobs (SIA, Business Administration, History, Policy, & Philosophy)
1999-2000
Andrew Artz (CIT, ECE)
Stacey Jenkins (H&SS, Creative & Professional Writing)
Jason Martin (H&SS, Psychology)
Jessica Phillips-Silver (BHA, Music & Psychology)
Julie Wilson (H&SS, Political Science, Social History, Spanish)
1998-1999
Elin Warn (CFA, Music, MCS, Environmental Science)
1997-1998
Jenny Good (H&SS, English, Spanish)
Adam Klivans (CS)
Ken Kraemer (IM)
Everett Neal (MCS, Chemical & Industrial Management
1996-1997
David Bauer (CIT)
Jill Goodall (H&SS, Psych)
Kerry Hagan (CIT, CFA, Music)
Mike Leonard (MCS, Math)
Denise Soultanian (CFA, Art)
1995-1996
Kate Bazis (CFA, Art)
Aaron Kozbelt (H&SS, Psych)
Larry Mathers (CIT)
Derek Wahila (CS)
1994-1995
Danny Dalal (CS)
Jeff Dorsey (CFA)
Emma Gosden (IM)
1993-1994
Matt Adler
Laura Ahr Larson
Rhonda Stuminger
1992-1993
Jennifer Bourque (H&SS, English)
Nicole Brockmann (CFA, Music)
Jaquelynn Cuccaro (IM, SDS, H&SS, History
Michael Ewedosh (IM)
Russell Lehrer (CIT, Chem E)
Paul Sollimo (CFA, Design)
Ulysses Wu (IM, H&SS, Econ)
1991-1992
Jennifer Arscott (CFA, Art)
Ingrid Bromberg (CFA, Art)
Paul Hachten (H&SS, Psych)
Robert O'Toole (CIT)
Kelli Satterwhite (MCS)