EMU Today

YPSILANTI—Eastern Michigan University proudly announces its first Brazilian Presidential Scholar, Maria Clara Faustini Santos of Jundiaí, Brazil. Santos is one of 21 students worldwide selected in 2024 for this prestigious award, which recognizes first-year students for academic excellence, leadership, and community commitment. In addition to her international student status, Santos has a global perspective, having volunteered in South Africa during a gap semester in high school.

The EMU Presidential Scholarship is the most prestigious award, valued at up to $100K. The scholarship covers full tuition, fees, and room and board for four years. Presidential Scholars are active and engaged members of The Honors College at EMU, complementing their academic college experience with further opportunities for critical thinking, community engagement, and leadership. 

"Winning the Presidential Scholarship means conquering my biggest academic accomplishment," said Santos. "For someone from a Latino background, being the first Brazilian to get this scholarship at EMU gives me the chance to have a strong voice to represent people from my country."

Santos graduated from ColAcgio Pentagunum Objetivo JundiaA-Agapeama in Brazil and is pursuing a double major in communication and public relations and a management minor. She is passionate about human connections and wants to be an active voice on an internal team for companies. In high school, she was on her varsity tennis team and participated in student council elections, her class council, and the school sports department. She was also a community service ambassador and director of affiliation logos. 

During Santos’s three-month gap semester, she worked with Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS in Khayelitsha, South Africa. She helped run political workshops, raise sales of the grandma's hand-made jewelry, helped schedule meals for over 100 grandchildren, and supported weekly health clubs. "In every smile I received from the grandmothers and through every new learning experience, I could see the power of how being passionate about human rights makes people strive for a more just and joyful world,” said Santos.

"We are excited to have such an impressive group of scholars join us at EMU and the Honors College this fall,” said Ann Eisenberg, dean of the Honors College. “They come from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries, but they all share a passion for learning, service, and leadership, and they have all pledged to give back to EMU through their work in the classroom, student organizations, and campus offices.”

The EMU Presidential Scholarship aligns with the University's commitment to promoting student success and engagement so that students can achieve their academic goals while positively impacting the world.

Qualified students can apply for the Presidential Scholarship during their senior year of high school. For more information about the Presidential Scholarship, visit the webpage. 

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, EMU is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.