Millennium Fellows

THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP IS a collaboration between the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and Millennium Campus Network (MCN), and provides support for a semester-long leadership development program that convenes, challenges, and celebrates bold student leadership to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals both on campus and in local communities.

In 2021, ten students from the University of South Florida were selected as Millennium Fellows.

This is a significant achievement, since the competition for Millennium Fellowships is intense. In 2021, over 20,000 young leaders from from 2,200 campuses in 153 nations applied for the Fellowship. Only 136 campuses in 30 nations were selected to host 2021 Millennium Fellows based on the caliber of applicants and cohorts. USF is among only 26 American universities selected to host Fellows this year.

“Having the opportunity to learn among such a diverse cohort is really a great opportunity, and has allowed me to make new and lasting connections in the process,” says Sean Schrader, one of USF’s 2021 Millennium Fellows.

The selected students each work on a project to advance one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This year, the Millennium Fellows at USF will help establish a drug prevention coalition, increase academic equity, create an app to easily find sustainable products, increase school supply sustainability, encourage youth to become involved in humanitarian causes, and promote mental health awareness among students.

“It is our great privilege at the University of South Florida to support the work of our 10 UN Millennium Fellows and advance sustainable development initiatives that improve our society,” said USF Provost and Executive Vice President Ralph Wilcox. “We congratulate our Fellows, whose leadership and commitment to meaningful change exemplifies the strength of USF’s commitment to social responsibility.”

- Amy Harroun

USF’S COHORT OF 2021 MILLENNIUM FELLOWS INCLUDES:

Kailani Hood

Cell and Molecular Biology major Expected graduation: Spring 2023 Project title: Founding USF Drug Prevention Coalition

This project will establish a drug prevention coalition at USF that will be tasked with spreading awareness of the dangers of substance misuse through educational seminars and advocating for policy reforms at both the state and national level.

Steven Long

Anthropology major Expected graduation: Summer 2023 Project title: The Higher Opportunity Initiative

The goal of the Higher Opportunity Initiative is to increase academic equity in the Tampa Bay area by giving at-risk high school students the opportunity to gain “simulated acceptance” into the University of South Florida for one weekend. In the Fall of 2021, more than 50 students participated virtually by making connections and outlining future goals. This process helped create a positive association with the college environment while providing resources that can help make collegiate goals a reality. After completing the project, every student participant described feeling more excited about the thought of going to college. To further support education, the initiative also donated more than 600 books to a local Tampa elementary school.

Sean Schrader

Business Management major Expected graduation: Spring 2022 Project title: Sustainable School Supply Kits

In the Fall of 2021, kit components were selected and purchased, thanks to a generous donation from Schrader Accounting and Tax Inc. The kits include pencils that can be replanted, a bamboo ruler, a cotton pouch, and a metal pencil sharpener, all contained in a biodegradable box. These kits eliminate the use of plastic in school supplies that can be repurposed after use. In 2022, the project plan is to work with the USF Student Green Energy Fund and the student centers across the university community to make the kits widely available to interested students.

Paula Souto Stefani

Management and Business Analytics major Expected graduation: Spring 2022 Project title: ShopSmart

ShopSmart is a sustainable application created to allow consumers to make educated decisions about a product’s sustainability and to help them identify which products best conform to their lifestyle preferences and dietary restrictions. The app saves consumers shopping time, guides them to the best products for their needs, and educates them about companies with commitments to produce sustainable goods.

Nafisa Uddin

Biomedical Sciences and International Studies major Expected graduation: 2024 Project title: Project Butterfly Effect

Project Butterfly Effect is an initiative to encourage youth to get involved with humanitarian causes. Like the theory that shares its name, the project is based on the principle that simple, individual actions can lead to huge impacts. The project specifically emphasizes the plight of underprivileged children and will work to galvanize privileged youth to act against the obstacles facing underprivileged youth by highlighting specific issues and encouraging young people to use their talents, have empathy, and develop leadership skills to create and participate in events that directly address their specific issue.

Padma Vasanthakumar

Biomedical Sciences major with an Entrepreneurship minor Expected graduation: Spring 2023 Project title: H-Art-Fulness for All

Prakash Vasanthakumar

Biomedical Sciences major with an Entrepreneurship minor Expected graduation: Spring 2023 Project title: H-ART-fulness for All

This project provides virtual and in-person sessions to promote mental health awareness among students. Through these sessions so far, more than 100 students and schoolchildren have been introduced to simple and effective coping strategies like Heartfulness meditation and art therapy. The goal of the project is to ensure that all students can pursue their education with good health and well-being.