Выпускник Университета Арканзаса вошел в первую группу стипендиатов программы Ляфайет для обучения в Франции

University of Arkansas graduate Cole McCallum has been selected as a member of the inaugural class of the Lafayette Fellowship, a nationally competitive program that supports outstanding American students pursuing graduate engineering education in France while strengthening scientific and technological collaboration between the United States and France. McCallum, who graduated in May with bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering and physics, was one of 30 fellows selected from more than 3,400 applicants nationwide for the program’s inaugural cohort. Through the fellowship, he will pursue a master's degree in aerospace engineering at ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse, one of Europe's leading aerospace institutions. He will begin the program later this month. "The Lafayette Fellowship brings me closer to my goal of leading French/American engineering collaborations with global impact," McCallum said. "Immersing myself in France will help me understand how their engineers think and approach problems, giving me the perspective needed to effectively steer teams representing both sides of the Atlantic." An Honors College Fellow and Arkansas Governor’s Scholar, McCallum graduated summa cum laude while completing majors in mechanical engineering, with an aerospace concentration, and physics, with a computational physics concentration. McCallum distinguished himself through undergraduate research and international engagement. He conducted grant-funded research focused on advanced manufacturing techniques and contributed to computational fluid dynamics research. His work combined aerospace engineering, computational modeling and advanced manufacturing to address complex engineering challenges. His international experience also includes graduate-level study at CentraleSupélec near Paris, where he completed coursework in machine learning applications for physics and electronics. Fluent in French, McCallum earned C1 certification in the language and demonstrated leadership in international scientific collaboration by directing a 25-member student team that applied machine learning techniques to astrophysics research. “It is not surprising that Cole McCallum was in this inaugural class of distinguished scholars selected for the Lafayette Fellowship,” said Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas. “He has proven to be an amazing student in both mechanical engineering and physics. He has long held a deep interest in aerospace engineering, and he will shine at ISAE-SUPAERO. I look forward to following his internationally important career in the years to come.” The Lafayette Fellowship builds upon those experiences by providing graduate study in France while preparing future leaders to advance bilateral scientific, engineering and technological partnerships between the two nations. The University of Arkansas has a long tradition of producing recipients of nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships that support graduate study, research and international engagement. McCallum's selection as an inaugural Lafayette Fellow continues that tradition while highlighting the university's commitment to preparing graduates for leadership in engineering and global innovation. About the Lafayette Fellowship: Established by the French Embassy in the United States through Villa Albertine and France Science, the Lafayette Fellowship is a nationally competitive program that supports up to 30 outstanding U.S. graduates each year for one year of master's-level study at leading French universities. In addition to fully funded graduate study, fellows participate in the French American Leadership Program, a yearlong series of mentorship, cultural immersion, site visits and professional development opportunities designed to strengthen academic collaboration and cultivate the next generation of leaders advancing the relationship between France and the United States. Office of Nationally Competitive Awards: University of Arkansas students and recent alumni interested in applying for scholarships and fellowships and faculty wishing to identify competitive students should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at [email protected] or 479-575-3771. More information is available at awards.uark.edu. About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation.