International honor

International honor

Sofia Appelberg

Sofia Appelberg

Sofia Appelberg, a Ph.D. student in the College of Medicine’s Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences, received an award from the UF International Center in November for exemplary academic work and community service. She was awarded the $3,000 Alec Courtelis Award, which is annually given to select international students. The IDP program and the College of Medicine nominated Appelberg, who is from Sweeden. As the community service chair for the IDP graduate student organization, she set up service projects around Gainesville for students and faculty and organized the IDP program’s team for the Gainesville Heart Walk. Her desire to help others stems from childhood lessons, she said. “I thank my parents who made my siblings and I well aware that we had a good life and that there are others who don’t have the same,” Appelberg said. “I had it in the back of my mind that you should contribute to the world because we are all a part of it. Most of the time, we can give back more than we do. It doesn’t have to be money. Sometimes a little bit of your time is worth more.”