This year, seven students of Indian origin have earned the prestigious Knight-Hennessy scholarship at Stanford University. These scholars include Ank Agarwal, Wasan Kumar, Aneesh Pappu, Isha Sanghvi, Kritika Singh, Krishna Pathak, and Rahul Penumaka. They are part of a cohort of 90 scholars selected for the largest graduate fellowship in the world.
The academic interests of these Indian-origin scholars cover a range of disciplines, including medicine, technology, engineering, and law. They are pursuing various advanced degrees such as PhDs, MBAs, and MDs. Their diverse areas of focus include research and development, policy, entrepreneurship, and social impact.
For the first time, the Knight-Hennessy scholarship has been awarded to 90 students from 30 different countries. These scholars are enrolled in 45 graduate programs across all seven schools at Stanford. The 2024 cohort includes students from nations such as Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Bulgaria, France, and Sri Lanka.
In this year’s batch, 47% of the scholars hold non-US passports. Tina Seelig, the executive director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, highlighted the diversity of the cohort, stating that each scholar brings a unique perspective to the community. She emphasized the importance of their diverse backgrounds in building connections and gaining knowledge across various disciplines, cultures, and ideologies, which enhances their capacity to tackle global challenges.
The Knight-Hennessy program is a fully-endowed, university-wide graduate fellowship that provides scholars with up to three years of financial support for their studies at Stanford. Scholars are chosen for their independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a commitment to civic engagement.
