Amplifying Excellence: Morgan Students Earn Honors in Diplomacy, Journalism and Language Study

At Morgan State University, excellence knows no boundaries—whether across disciplines, industries, or borders. This spring, three outstanding Morgan students—Tuesday Barnes, Rosie Reynolds, and Morelys Urbano—have been selected for competitive, high-impact programs that reflect their academic dedication and personal drive. From language and cultural immersion to national-level journalism and international diplomacy, these experiences exemplify Morgan’s commitment to empowering students to apply their learning in meaningful, real-world contexts that expand their perspectives and elevate their potential. 

Tuesday Barnes, a doctoral student in the Applied Sociology and Social Justice Ph.D. program, was awarded the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. She is among the nearly 600 U.S. undergraduate and graduate students selected for this honor.

The CLS Program provides fully funded immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages strategically crucial to the United States’ national security, economic prosperity, and engagement with the world. Each summer, students selected from across the nation spend approximately eight weeks studying one of a dozen languages, either overseas or virtually. Participants gain the equivalent of one year of language study, as the CLS Program maximizes language and cultural instruction in an intensive environment. The CLS Scholarship will fund Tuesday's study of Swahili in Tanzania this summer.

Rosie Reynolds, a sophomore majoring in Biology and enrolled in Chinese courses at MSU, has been awarded the Young Envoys Scholarship (YES). This initiative, sponsored by the Chinese government, aims to strengthen relationships between the U.S. and China among younger generations. The scholarship will allow Reynolds to explore current social, economic and scientific developments in China while also learning about the country’s history. She will spend two weeks visiting and studying in four cities in China, fully funded by the scholarship.

“Morgan State continues to grow its international footprint by thoughtfully engaging with institutions and communities around the world, and our students are central to this endeavor,” said Megan DeVirgillis, Ph.D., associate professor of Spanish and Fulbright Program Director, World Languages & International Studies at Morgan State. “The recent merit-based, nationally competitive scholarships that Ms. Barnes and Ms. Reynolds were awarded to hone their target language skills in a culturally immersive environment is an excellent example of how our students are developing their own global competencies while advancing mutual understanding between communities.”

Senior Morelys Urbano, a multimedia journalism student at the School of Global Journalism and Communication, with a minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, has been elected to the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) 2025 Student Project team. This competitive program brings together top student journalists from across the nation to report on the NAHJ National Conference and Expo and gain practical experience in a newsroom setting, under the guidance of professional mentors. Many journalists, leaders and educators started through the NAHJ Student Project. This year's conference will take place in Chicago, and Morelys will be part of the cohort attending the event with all expenses covered.

Scholars at the National Treasure, Morgan State, earn distinction through experiential excellence. All three students have been selected for highly competitive, transformative opportunities that extend and enrich their academic journeys. Whether through language and cultural immersion, national journalism experience, or international diplomacy, these recognitions highlight how Morgan students apply their knowledge, skills, and voices to excel in real-world settings.

Congratulations to Morelys, Rosie, and Tuesday!