Nick Blumenthal: UF's 3rd Schwarzman Scholar

(Nick Blumenthal in front of the U.S. Capitol Building)

Dec. 6 | Honors & CALS Senior Plans to Focus on Food Systems in Global Affairs

Honors senior Nick Blumenthal has been deemed a 2024 Schwarzman Scholar, one of just 150 students worldwide making up the cohort. The 21-year-old nutritional sciences major in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is granted a full scholarship to Tsinghua University in Beijing, China and is UF’s third-ever recipient of this prestigious scholarship.

Blumenthal’s work will be continuing at China’s top university, but it has already been widespread. While at UF, Blumenthal has focused on food and agricultural education and reform across borders. He volunteers with Gainesville Giving Garden, a non-profit that uses sustainable horticulture to give produce to locals who are food insecure. He has advocated for programs and legislation to alleviate hunger through a national coalition called Swipe Out Hunger and at the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

Nationally and internationally, he has presented his research on diet-related disease, was chosen to participate in a Fulbright Summer Institute and works with United Nations organizations concerning malnutrition and food insecurity. Last month, he was one of sixteen young adults in the country to be appointed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan to the first-ever National Environmental Youth Advisory Council.

Blumenthal will continue his studies per the scholarship at Tsinghua’s Schwarzman College, pursuing a master’s degree in global affairs. Interdisciplinary and international collaboration is important to food and agriculture, he said. China, like the US, has one of the largest and most influential food systems in the world, and he is looking forward to learning more about its operation. He has not previously been exposed to China’s perspective, he said.

“It is imperative that leaders within the field … gain a broader understanding of our equally significant partner across the world. Pursuing a Master’s of Global Affairs will enable me to contextualize how the U.S. both similarly and differentially engage in various aspects of our global food system,” Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal’s motivation in his field is recognized by not only the Schwarzman program, but also his current home, UF’s Honors Program. He has shown “dogged determination” to advocate for food security locally, nationally and globally, Honors interim director Melissa Johnson said.

“I don’t say this lightly - he is a true changemaker who will continue to make a real-world difference long after he graduates. We are proud to count him among our UF Honors students, as Nick embodies the honors spirit of experiencing the uncommon,” Johnson said.

Blumenthal knew that regardless of the outcome of the competitive process, he would continue to work toward addressing food insecurity and malnutrition. He recalls calling his sister for support when he found out he was a finalist. He traveled to New York City for the interview and was eventually notified of the win via phone call. 

“[After] hanging up, the rest of the night was a blur, but I am super excited to move to Beijing next year and gain an in-depth understanding of China’s perspective to international food and agriculture,” he said.

The Schwarzman Scholarship is open to all UF students, regardless of degree level, field of study and citizenry. Interested students should contact the Office of Prestigious Awards at prestigiousawards@aa.ufl.edu to learn more about the application process.

Written by UF Honors Communications Fellow, Bari Weiner.