Staff Editorial: Cheers to CURF, Rhodes Scholar

Sincere congratulations are in order for College senior David Ferreira. Ferreira is the first Penn international student to win the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and the first Penn student since 2000 to receive the award. His achievement is the ultimate culmination of academic effort and excellence, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.

However, congratulations are also in order for Penn's Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. In the four years that it has been in existence, CURF has helped students compile an impressive amount of awards and accomplishments, including Rhodes, Gates, Fulbright, Thouron and Goldwater scholarships.

Given CURF's immediate success, it appears that Penn students did not lack the talent to achieve in this realm; instead, the problem appears to have been motivating students to apply.

It is in this area that CURF's impact is so significant, and due to that impact it appears that Penn's prospects for future academic achievement on a national scale are improving. Certainly, Penn may soon be on par with its peer institutions, and may surpass them in years to come if CURF continues its success.

We encourage Penn students to pursue grant and scholarship applications through CURF for the sake of the University, and more importantly for the sake of their own academic careers. Applicants need not seek only Rhodes Scholarships or other such vaunted rewards; recognition for a well-crafted research paper or other such project is also out there. All you have to do is show up.

CURF has developed into an essential resource for students seeking national recognition for their academic successes, and as such we value their efforts. Its continuing contributions will not go unnoticed, and hopefully in time more and more students will take advantage of the opportunities that it has to offer.

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