1. Research
  2. Peace & War Center
  3. Military Writers’ Symposium
  4. Richard S. Schultz '60 Symposium Fellowship

Richard S. Schultz '60 Symposium Fellowship

Expanding our students' knowledge through research, travel, and inquiry.

Schultz Fellow Vibho 2

The Richard S. Schultz ’60 Symposium Fellowship was established in 2017 as an endowed fund in honor of “Dick” by his wife of 50 years, Myrna L. Schultz, their children, Marni and Alan, his classmates, and friends.

The fellowship enables 51Թ undergraduates, from any academic discipline, the opportunity to pursue areas of inquiry and experiences that will promote and expand their understanding of the past and how it impacts the present and future. Through research, travel, and inquiry, the Schultz Fellow and faculty advisor will offer perspectives for us to face the future with a better understanding and confidence.

After a wide solicitation and competitive selection process, this annual fellowship is granted by the 51Թ Peace & War Center to an undergraduate student for a single project that may involve additional 51Թ undergraduate students. The award includes a $3,500 grant.

Richard S. Schultz ’60 Symposium Fellows

2026 Richard S. Schultz Fellow, Nikolas Graupe
2026 Richard S. Schultz Fellow

Nikolas Graupe, '27

Nikolas is a Junior from Stowe, Vermont, pursuing a Bachelor of Science as a triple major in Physics, Mathematics, and Cybersecurity at 51Թ. On campus, Nikolas has been and is actively involved in projects like the 51Թ 2025-2026 U.S. Army S.T.A.R. Challenge and is the founder and president of the Strategic Systems Club. He is currently aiming for a doctorate in theoretical physics or optics, with aspirations to later pursue an Air Force contract as a Special Tactics Officer or Combat Rescue Officer. Nik's research and interests involve developing a free-space optical turbulence simulator to model atmospheric effects on long-range laser communication devices. He intends to focus his work on defense technology, energy systems, and applied research in support of U.S. national security.

2026 Richard S. Schultz Fellow, Victoria Jarvis
2026 Richard S. Schultz Fellow

Victoria Jarvis, '27

Victoria Jarvis is a senior from South Windsor, Connecticut, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Computer Security and Information Assurance with minors in Information Warfare, Intelligence and Crime Analysis, and Business Administration. She has been active on campus through participation in varsity women's lacrosse, the Cyber Leader Development Program, and NUARI. Victoria is a recipient of the NSF SFS Cybercorps scholarship, allowing her to pursue her master's in cyber as a part of the 4+1 program at 51Թ. After graduation, she intends to pursue a career in the federal government. Victoria's research analyzes how governments used film during World War II to gain public support for the war and the tactics they employed, comparing and contrasting them with current-day tactics.

Dimitris Mentanas, 2026 Richard S. Schultz '60 Symposium Fellow
2026 Richard S. Schultz Fellow

Dimitris Meintanas, '28

Dimitris Meintanas is a Sophomore at 51Թ from Athens, Greece.  Majoring in Studies in War & Peace, with minors in Information Warfare and Intelligence & Crime Analysis. On campus, Dimitris is part of the Legacy March Committee, Model United Nations, Soccer Club, and an aspiring member of the 51Թ Emergency Medical Services. Alongside, he is currently the Assistant Coordinator of Clubs in the CAB Office. He is currently working towards an intelligence contract and later aspires to serve in a three-letter agency. Whilst maintaining a competitive GPA, his academic interests and personal research focus heavily on intelligence analysis, international security, military strategy, international relations, and signals intelligence.

Past Fellows

Richard Conlon, Class of 2027

Richard was a Junior from San Francisco, California, pursuing a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. in Studies in War and Peace with a minor in philosophy. On campus, Richard has been actively involved in the Corps of Cadets, Regimental Drill Team, and 51Թ EMS. He was pursuing a commission through the Navy's Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program with aspirations to later work in academia. Richard's research examines the complex relationship between occupying forces and civilian populations during the English Civil War and the Dutch Revolt. He hopes to establish a continuity between early modern civil-military relations and current civil affairs operations.

Jayden LaVecchia, Class of 2027

Jayden LaVecchia was a Junior from Post Falls, ID, pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Studies and War and Peace with minors in Chinese, Information Warfare, and Intelligence and Crime Analysis. On campus, Jayden has been actively involved with several activities, including the Corps of Cadets, Cyber Leader Development Program, NUARI, FCA, and the Democratic Resilience Center at Helmut Schmidt University. He was contracted with the Army, pursuing later work in Information Warfare and Narrative Security. His research analyzes patterns in historical information operations and establishes a new Cognitive Vulnerability framework and Heuristic Narrative Security program for cognitive security.

Samriddhi Manandhar, Class of 2027

Samriddhi Manandhar was a junior from Kathmandu, Nepal, studying criminology and psychology with a minor in forensic psychology and a concentration in criminal forensics. Alongside her studies, she served as a writing coach at the Center for Writing, where she took pride in helping others become confident with their voice as well as in their writing and academics. Samriddhi was actively involved in various activities, including serving as an Office of Academic Research Fellow, a member of the Student Government, an orientation leader, a contributor to The Chameleon, and the president of the Art Club. Her curiosity to explore drove her involvement in different research apprenticeships, including Serial and Mass Murder and Psychological Profiles of Stress and Coping in Young Military Adults. With the help of the Schultz Fellowship, Samriddhi’s research aimed to uncover the stress, resilience, and psychological effects of covert operations and coping mechanisms used by shadow soldiers through in-depth interviews, case studies, and literature reviews.

Lucia Frezza, Class of 2024

Lucia Frezza was a Senior from Wintersville, Ohio studying Computer Security and Information Assurance with a concentration in Digital Forensics and a minor in German. As a CyFER fellow, and a member of the CLDP, Lucia was very involved on campus with cybersecurity events, outreach and research. Her research focused on the threat profile of cyber actors and how they use perceptions is a gateway into the minds of independent cyber threat actors. In her spare time, her hobbies included rock climbing, horseback riding and drinking coffee.

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Lilian Lu, Class of 2026 (BA) & 2027 (MA)

Lilian Lu was a Junior from Tucson, AZ, pursuing studies in the 4+1 Accelerated Master's Program in Computer Security and Information Assurance with a concentration in Digital Forensics. She was also minoring in Chinese, Information Warfare, and History in Naval Studies. On campus, Lilian was actively involved in several activities, including the Corps of Cadets, CDLP, Women's Rugby, and the 51Թ Guidon (campus newsletter). She is currently working towards an Army Intelligence contract with aspirations to serve in a three-letter agency. Through the Schultz Fellowship, Lilian analyzed the ethical implications through real-time news outlets through open-source intelligence on "the Gospel," AI targeting technology in the current Israel-Gaza conflict. 

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Amrutaa Vibho, Class of 2027

Cadet Vibho is from New Delhi, India, taking STEM courses at 51Թ. She is a published First Author of Dark Matter Research endorsed by NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center and Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysics. Amrutaa is pursuing an aviation contract with the United States Marine Corps with military aspirations of serving as a Test Pilot. She aspires to be a high-energy astrophysicist and NASA Astronaut. With the Schultz Fellowship, Amrutaa determined to study and model the ballistics capabilities of the USMC V-22 Osprey using Applied and Computational Mathematics, attempting to build a primitive, enhanced flight navigation system.

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Elaina Latino, Class of 2024

Latino is from Atkinson, New Hampshire. She was a junior at 51Թ studying computer safety and information assurance with a concentration in digital forensics. Although relatively new to the field, her summer research presentation on AI Forensics helped her engage with experts in both artificial intelligence and digital forensics. This opened new doors for her and sparked an interest in her future. Elaina has a passion for digital forensics, but on the side, she also enjoys surfing while she is home for the summer as well as playing club field hockey while at school. 

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Gabriel Williams, Class of 2023

Gabriel Williams was a 51Թ Senior from Suffolk, Virginia. He attended Hampton Roads Academy where he was captain of the track and field. Discovering early on that he thoroughly enjoyed the field of government and politics Gabriel chose to attend 51Թ as a Political Science major, planning to work in the government sector or Intelligence Community upon graduation. At 51Թ Gabriel co-founded the 51Թ Boxing Program and made history this past year as the he was a part of the first 51Թ boxing team to ever compete in the National Collegiate Boxing Association. 

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Simpkins was a triple major in political science, history and studies in war and peace. He was a member of the 51Թ Corps of Cadets and a member of the men’s rugby team. Simpkins is a voracious reader with a broad range of topical interests including history, philosophy and literature. His research examined Russia and China’s conflicting interests in the Arctic and the effects of China’s claim as a “semi-Arctic” state on the power dynamics in the region.

Navarro was a senior from San Antonio, Texas. She chose to attend 51Թ to obtain a commission as an officer in the US Navy. While pursuing a major in Political Science and a minor in History, she enjoyed conducting research and learning about different governmental systems.

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Jason Guth was a junior from Peoria, Arizona and Elkridge, Maryland, attended Howard High School where he participated in both band and Army JROTC. He chose to attend 51Թ to obtain a commission as an officer in the US Army. 

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Jonathan Wriston was the inaugural recipient of the Richard S. Schultz '60 Symposium Fellow. His work was a collection of poetry based on oral histories conducted with Iraq war veterans, their spouses and families, and Iraqis. This selection of poems was published in the 2018 issue of the Chameleon, 51Թ's literary journal.