Announcing the ISO U.S. Journey Spotlight Scholarship Recipients for 2026

Elamthal Abuobaida

University of South Florida | Sudan/UAE

My journey to the United States began with the goal of earning an education and building a future that would allow me to support my family. I am originally from Sudan, was raised in the United Arab Emirates, and later moved to the U.S. as an international student.

When I first began college, I was on the pre-med track because I wanted a career centered on helping others. However, after the war erupted in Sudan, my family's circumstances and my outlook on the future changed. I realized that I needed to choose a path that matched my strengths, offered stability, and would put me in a position to support my family. That realization led me to change my path and pursue Chemical Engineering at the University of South Florida.

Since then, I have balanced demanding coursework with campus employment, leadership positions, undergraduate research, and engineering internships. I have gained experience in water-resource operations, chemical engineering research, and construction project engineering. These opportunities have shown me that engineering is another powerful way to help people by improving infrastructure, protecting access to clean water, and creating safer and more sustainable systems.

Navigating college, finances, immigration requirements, and the emotional impact of the war has not been easy. Still, each challenge has made me more determined and adaptable. My journey in the U.S. is about more than earning a degree, it is about building a stable future, making my family proud, and eventually being able to support them and give back to my community.

Jijun Niu

Virginia Tech | China

One thing I really enjoy about living in the U.S. is the outdoor activity culture. Back in high school in Kyrgyzstan, I was on my school's volleyball team, and we traveled quite a lot to compete in tournaments. I also got to ski pretty often. Looking back, those are some of my favorite memories from high school, outside of the classroom.

I've always wanted to become an engineer, and one of the things that attracted me to the U.S. was the amount of hands-on experience that engineering students can get. Virginia Tech has been a great fit for me because there are so many opportunities to actually build and design things, rather than just learn about them in class. Right now, I'm involved in five different design teams and lead three of them.

Through these teams, I've realized how much I enjoy designing, brainstorming ideas, and working through problems with my teammates. It's really rewarding when an idea that we discussed on a whiteboard eventually turns into something that actually works. At the same time, these experiences have helped me make a lot of friends who are just as passionate about engineering as I am.

Looking ahead, I want to keep meeting people who share my interests in both engineering and sports, while continuing to challenge myself and gain more hands-on experience. I also hope that one day I can take my engineering career to Silicon Valley. For me, my journey in the U.S. is not just about getting a degree. It's about finding the people, experiences, and opportunities that will shape who I become as an engineer and as a person.

Nikunjkumar Vagadiya

New York University | India

I came to the U.S. to join NYU Chemistry specifically Kirshenbaum Research Lab as a PhD student in chemistry, where I now work on developing prostate cancer therapeutics that can overcome drug resistance - the very kind of breakthrough that could have given my grandfather more time. Every experiment I run carries his memory with it.

My ambition isn't just to earn a degree, it's to turn grief into purpose, and to build a career where I can save lives the way I couldn't save his. Today, I am proud, I am grateful, and I am more determined than ever to make this journey mean something - for my family, for future patients, and for the researcher I promised myself I'd become.

Utsav Shrestha

Jacksonville State University | Nepal

I came to the U.S. from Nepal chasing something bigger than a degree, a chance to work on technology that actually matters and solve real world problems. Growing up, I watched Nepal struggle with limited tech infrastructure and knew I wanted to be part of changing that someday.

At Jacksonville State University, I have tried to make the most of every opportunity: placing 1st in IEEE SoutheastCon's software competition, earning bronze medal in ICPC 2nd Division at Georgia Tech, working as a Resident Assistant to help living expenses, building stock simulator and AI student success platform, and founding the Nepalese Student Organization to give other international students a community I wished I'd had from day one.

My ambition is to pursue a PhD in AI/ML, specifically AI safety and reasoning and eventually bring that expertise back to help build Nepal's tech ecosystem. The U.S. has given me the tools and knowledge and I want to use them for something that genuinely helps people back home.

Maria Alexandra Camargo Pelaez

Bowling Green State University | Colombia

My journey to the U.S. was driven by a deep calling to expand my artistic boundaries as a composer and pianist, immersing myself in a world class academic environment.

Currently pursuing my Master of Music in Composition at Bowling Green State University, my ambition is to bridge cultural gaps through symphonic music by weaving traditional Latin American rhythms into modern orchestral formats, a mission deeply honored by winning Colombia's Premio Filarmónico Mujeres Compositoras.

Moving forward, my ambition in the U.S. is tied to active community and artistic collaboration, highlighted by my upcoming orchestral premiere commissioned by the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra for Spring 2027. Ultimately, I aspire to compose meaningful works for major symphony orchestras and symphony bands, bridge cultures across borders, and contribute fresh, vibrant narratives to the global orchestral repertoire.

In Spring 2027, Maria is scheduled to premiere an orchestral work commissioned by the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra.