Swensen Scholarship (Est. 2020)

The Swensen Scholarship, given in honor of David Swensen PH.D. ’80, is awarded to Yale undergraduates who excel both in the classroom and in athletics or the arts. Recipients, known as the Swensen Scholars, are awarded funding to practice the highest caliber training in their selected field. Swensen Scholars will become a cohort of achievers recognized as the epitome of Yale and the importance of curricular and extra-curricular excellence as integral parts of a liberal arts education.

2026

Katya Agrawal, Branford College

Katya is an exceptional artist and student, deeply curious and fully committed to her painting practice, as well as to broader contemporary questions regarding artistic production. This was evident in her engagement in my seminar. She arrived with a rigorous perspective and thoughtful observations that consistently engaged other students in meaningful discussion. It is not only her talent as a painter—which is immediately evident when engaging with her work—but also her ability to translate complex ideas with clarity and precision. Katya is highly self-motivated, and her technical skill supports a critical inquiry into the nature of observation, knowing and belonging. - Ayham Ghraowi, Critic, Yale School of Art

Davianna Inirio, Trumbull College

Davianna proved more than ready to tackle a labor-intensive seminar (Writing About Contemporary Figurative Art) in which students would, every two weeks, be reckoning with a new challenge: planning the lighting and design of an art exhibit, or researching the aesthetic and community impact of public art projects around the world, or strategizing approaches to museum boards in order to pitch acquisition proposals. Over and over, Davianna distinguished herself as someone willing to blaze unusual pathways toward resolution of the problems raised by each assignment. She is a blazing intellect, resourceful and poised beyond her years. - Margaret Spillane
Lecturer in English, Yale University

Malina Reber, Timothy Dwight College

Malina is a skilled painter and has been expanding her studio practice beyond painting. I can attest to her excellence as a maker and thinker. Since Malina’s studio practice is interdisciplinary, the exposure to a range of materials and way of thinking about the studio practice, will expand her work. This opportunity in my mind is fundamental to helping her become grow as an artist. - Maria De Los Angeles, Critic, Assistant Director in Painting and Printmaking, Yale School of Art

2025

Kai Chen, Pierson College

Cynthia Lin, Grace Hopper College

2024

Natalie Brown, Timothy Dwight College

Cleo Maloney, Silliman College

Alexander Laurent Rubalcava, Timothy Dwight College

2023

Chiara Hardy, Grace Hopper College

Olivia Marwell, Jonathan Edwards College

Jeffrey Steele, Ezra Stiles College

Michael Wang, Silliman College