Ladyane Lima, a member of the SPS staff and CUNY Baccalaureate student, has won the Thomas W. Smith Academic Fellowship, awarded for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies and recognizing academic excellence. Ms. Lima, an international student originally from Brazil, maintains a 3.5 GPA. Ladyane juggles the responsibilities of a full-time student with part-time work at the CUNY School of Professional Studies, and volunteerism. She plans to pursue a degree in Economics Policy and Latin American Studies. Ladyane has been in the U.S. less than three years and did not attend high school here. The Smith Fellowship is something of a family affair for Ladyane, who says, “I’m following my older sister’s footsteps – who actually got the same Fellowship years ago.”

Fellowship eligibility requirements include successful completion of at least 48 credits with at least 6 credits earned in CUNY Baccalaureate, as well as recommendation by the faculty mentor. The Fellowship covers tuition until the student graduates. Since the Fellowship’s inception in 1994, 575 students have been named Smith Fellows.

Congratulations Ladyane — we wish you all the best!