Flagship Futures

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Posted on June 17, 2026 by

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One of the newest scholarship programs at the University of South Alabama is the Flagship Leaders Scholarship, awarded to first-year students who have shown impact in the classroom, student organizations and their communities. The renewable scholarship connects them with mentorship and extra leadership opportunities, turning that momentum into four years of growth, service and involvement. Get to know three honorees of the inaugural 2025 class:

Charlie Snyder
Major: Political Science 

Growing up in Chicago, Charlie Snyder didn’t expect his college story to unfold on the Alabama Gulf Coast. But then he met Mike Hryndza, a regional out-of-state student recruitment associate director for South, at a college fair. South stayed on Snyder’s short list. He toured campus, interviewed for the Honors College and

the Flagship Leaders Program, and earned a merit scholarship. Additional scholarships and federal aid added up to the chance to attend college for free; his choice was certain.

Growing up in Chicago, Charlie Snyder didn’t expect his college story to unfold on the Alabama Gulf Coast. But then he met Mike Hryndza, a regional out-of-state student recruitment associate director for South, at a college fair. South stayed on Snyder’s short list. He toured campus, interviewed for the Honors College and the Flagship Leaders Program, and earned a merit scholarship. Additional scholarships and federal aid added up to the chance to attend college for free; his choice was certain.

Fernanda Sanchez Villafranca
Major: Biomedical Sciences with Spanish Minor

When Fernanda Sanchez Villafranca’s family moved from Lima, Peru, to the U.S., she wasn’t ready to leave  her parents. Choosing South allowed her to stay close and help them navigate a new language and culture.

“South has given me the opportunity to pursue upper-level classes with incredible professors who have given me valuable advice throughout my first year,” she says.

Sanchez Villafranca is involved with Alpha Epsilon Delta honor society for aspiring health professionals and the Spanish Club and volunteers weekly at USA Health Providence Hospital. Medicine runs in her family: Her mother was a nurse, and several relatives are physicians. Volunteering has shown her how important effective communication and creative problem-solving are, especially for patients who don’t speak English.

Kiersten Jackson
MAJOR: Business Administration  

Coming to South from Montgomery, Kiersten Jackson joined Friends of Internationals to learn about

the world beyond the U.S. That experience now shapes the way she thinks about business, from how culture influences communication and decision-making to how companies can approach global markets with more respect and nuance.

She’d assumed college life would be highly structured, with a clear path. Instead, she found a self-directed world that rewards initiative, adaptability and saying yes to the unexpected. That mindset traces back to a decision she made in high school to join activities outside her comfort zone. It helped her build the confidence and communication skills to engage with people who are different from her.

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