Seven Indian-origin students among 90 new Knight-Hennessy Scholars 

Ank Agarwal, Wasan Kumar, Aneesh Pappu, Isha Sanghvi, Kritika Singh, Krishna Pathak and Rahul Penumaka among new scholars 

Seven Indian-origin students are among 2024 cohort of 90 new Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University, the largest to date. This seventh cohort comprises students from 30 countries who will pursue degrees in 45 graduate programs across all seven graduate schools at Stanford, according to a university release.

Indian-origin scholars are Ank Agarwal, Wasan Kumar, Aneesh Pappu, Isha Sanghvi, Kritika Singh, Krishna Pathak and Rahul Penumaka.

Ank Agarwal, originally from New Haven, Connecticut, is pursuing both an MD and a PhD in cancer biology at the Stanford School of Medicine. His interest lies at the intersection of cancer research, dermatology, and health equity.

READ: 6 Indian American students win $90,000 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships (April 17, 2024)

Wasan Kumar, hailing from Skokie, Illinois, is pursuing an MD/MBA at Stanford’s School of Medicine and Graduate School of Business. With a background in neuroscience and a keen interest in health policy and technology he is focused on improving healthcare quality and accessibility through innovative solutions.

Aneesh Pappu, is pursuing a PhD in electrical engineering at Stanford’s School of Engineering. A Marshall Scholar with degrees from Stanford, University College London, and the University of Cambridge, his research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, privacy, and policy.

Isha Sanghvi, aims to merge medicine, entrepreneurship, and social impact. A Fremont, California, native she is pursuing an MD at Stanford’s School of Medicine with a focus on women’s health and trauma-informed care.

Kritika Singh, from McLean, Virginia, is dedicated to bridging gaps in global healthcare through innovative technologies. Pursuing an MD at Stanford’s School of Medicine, her background in bioengineering and extensive research experience combined with her nonprofit initiatives and scholarly achievements underscore her passion for transforming healthcare delivery.

Krishna Pathak, from Carmel, Indiana, is a JD candidate at Stanford Law and brings White House National Security Council experience advising on foreign policy and technology. He is engaged in bilateral diplomacy and supporting congressional work on national security.

Rahul Penumaka, from Hyderabad, India, is focusing on translational research and applied medicine at Stanford’s School of Medicine. With a background in pharmacology and experience in healthcare delivery, he is dedicated to addressing the global burden of cardiovascular disease through innovative diagnostics and therapeutics.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate fellowship program spanning all seven schools at Stanford University.

Knight-Hennessy scholars receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford while engaging in experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders who address complex challenges facing the world. Scholars are selected based on their demonstration of independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.

“With each new cohort of scholars I am even more encouraged about the future,” said John L. Hennessy, Stanford University president emeritus and the Shriram Family Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. “The challenges our world faces are only growing more complex, which validates the importance of our mission here.”

Knight-Hennessy Scholars develops emerging leaders who have a commitment to the greater good and the tools needed to drive meaningful change.

The King Global Leadership Program is a core part of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars experience, offering a wide range of workshops, lectures, projects, and experiences that complement scholars’ graduate school education, helping them reach their leadership objectives.

Among the 2024 scholars, 47 percent hold a non-US passport. Forty-nine percent of US scholars identify as a person of color, and 11 percent have served in the US military. The scholars earned undergraduate degrees at 60 different institutions, including 12 international institutions. Twenty-two percent are the first in their family to graduate from college.

The seventh cohort brings the total scholar count to 514 to date, beginning with the inaugural cohort enrolled in 2018.

“Each scholar brings a unique perspective to our growing community,” said Tina Seelig, executive director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. “It is inspiring to see them build ties and gain knowledge across disciplines, cultures, and ideologies, contributing to their ability to address the world’s biggest challenges.”

The application for the 2025 cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars will open June 1, 2024, and is due Oct 9, 2024. Knight-Hennessy Scholars has no quotas or restrictions based on region, college or university, field of study, or career aspiration.

Announced in 2016, Knight-Hennessy Scholars is named for Phil Knight, MBA ’62, philanthropist and co-founder of Nike Inc., and John Hennessy, chairman of Alphabet Inc. and president emeritus of Stanford (2000-2016). Knight-Hennessy Scholars is the largest, university-wide, fully-endowed graduate fellowship in the world.