Five Aggies Nominated for Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell Scholarships

LAUNCH: National Fellowships congratulates our five 2015 nominees for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell Scholarships for post-graduate study!

Each of these applicants has devoted time to self-reflection and goal development as they revised their essays, requested letters of recommendation, and poured over detailed application instructions. We are equally proud of their perseverance in the fellowship process and of their outstanding accomplishments throughout their college careers.

2015 Marshall Nominee Mariah Bastin ’14

Mariah Bastin ’14, who double-majored in German and international studies – politics and diplomacy, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship and hopes to obtain a PhD in International Relations. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2013 with Honors Fellows and Undergraduate Research Scholars distinctions, as well as National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Eta Sigma National Society, Phi Beta Kappa and Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi honors cords. In 2015, Mariah graduated from the George Bush School of Government & Public Service with a Master of International Affairs. She received the Dean’s Certificate in Leadership. She also served as the President of the German Club and was elected as an International Affairs Representative for the Class of 2015. Fluent in German and French, Mariah has previously worked on the Military Staff Committee of the US Mission to the United Nations and as a German instructor for the Bush School. She is currently employed as an editorial fellow by GovLoop in Washington DC.

2015 Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell Nominee Andy Baxter ’16

Andy Baxter ’16, a Physics and mathematics double major with a business administration minor, has been nominated for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell Scholarships. He hopes to combine a business education with studies in aerospace physics and engineering in preparation for a management career in aerospace innovation. Additionally, if selected for a scholarship at the University of Oxford, Andy plans to join the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics to apply his studies in physics and business to his Christian faith. Andy’s primary involvement at Texas A&M has been through Freshmen Leaders in Christ, in which he served as a director. He has also been a Muster Host for the past two years, founded a discussion group for Christian physicists, served as an Impact counselor, assisted with a “Five for Yell” campaign, played in many intramural sports, and is currently serving as treasurer for the Society of Physics Students. During his summers as a college student, Andy has participated in research on superconducting magnets at the Texas A&M Accelerator Research Laboratory, studied abroad through the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics program, and interned at the IT Alliance for Public Sector in Washington DC through the Texas A&M Public Policy Internship Program.

2015 Rhodes Nominee Hunter Hampton ’16

Hunter Hampton ’16, seeking degrees in economics and international studies, with a minor in German, has been nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship with the goal of studying international relations at Oxford University. Hunter is a University Scholar, an Undergraduate Research Scholar, and a member of the Cornerstone Liberal Arts Honors Program, University Honors, and Phi Beta Kappa. As a junior, Hunter wrote his undergraduate thesis on entrepreneurship and conflict resolution in Palestine, and now as a senior, he works in the A&M Economics Research Laboratory on a project about the effects of mandated volunteering on total volunteering. Along with his academic pursuits, Hunter interned at the Institut für Europäische Politik in Berlin, Germany, and spent three years as a member of the Student Conference on National Affairs (SCONA), rising to Chief of Staff in his final year. Outside of academics, Hunter enjoys biking, playing the erhu poorly, and drinking copious amounts of coffee.

2015 Marshall Nominee Molly Huff ’16

Molly Huff ’16, a Chemistry major with a minor in mathematics, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to pursue a Masters of Philosophy in chemistry at a UK university. She is an active undergraduate researcher, working in the Polymer Nanocomposites Laboratory for two years and presenting her two publications at an American Chemical Society national conference. Currently, Molly is writing an Undergraduate Research Scholar thesis in physical organic chemistry, studying heavy-atom tunneling both experimentally and computationally. This summer, she completed an internship at OXEA in Bay City where she worked on research and development of a new homogeneous catalyst for the plant. She has also been actively involved in Aggie Sisters for Christ and as a tutor for all levels of chemistry courses. Molly has traveled around the world and hopes to one day live in a foreign country to enhance global chemistry research.

2015 Rhodes and Marshall Nominee Annie Melton ’16

Annie Melton ‘16, an anthropology and classics double major with a minor in geoinformatics, has been nominated for the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships. Annie, a University Scholar and Undergraduate Research Ambassador, has been heavily involved in archaeological research, beginning her freshman year in the research lab of Dr. Mike Waters. Several of these projects, including her senior honors thesis under the direction of Dr. Kelly Graf, were presented at national and regional conferences. Annie has taken part in archaeological projects in Alaska, Israel, and Portugal, while also analyzing stone tool assemblages from sites in Kentucky and Tennessee, all of which date to differing time periods in the archaeological record. Following graduate school, where she will pursue a PhD in archaeology and focus on the emergence of early modern humans, she hopes to pursue a career in which she can juggle her research passions while teaching the next generation of archaeologists.

The Rhodes Scholarship is for graduate study at Oxford University, the Marshall Scholarship is for graduate study at any UK university, and the George J. Mitchell Scholarship is for graduate study at any university in Ireland. Nominees will soon be notified whether they have been chosen to advance to the interview round of selection. We wish them the best of luck!

LAUNCH: National Fellowships is grateful to the Association of Former Students for their generous support, which applicants benefit from through our programs as well as support for travel to interviews.

2014 National Fellowship Nominees

Honors and Undergraduate Research (HUR) has nominated six outstanding students for nationally-competitive fellowships this year, including the George C. Marshall Scholarship, the George Mitchell Scholarship, and the Rhodes Scholarship.

The Marshall Scholarship finances up to 40 young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree in any field of study in the United Kingdom. The selected scholars’ direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programs contributes to their ultimate personal success.

The Mitchell Scholarship is an award sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance. It was named in honor of former U.S. Senator Mitchell’s contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process and designed to introduce upcoming future American leaders to Ireland, while fostering scholarship, leadership, and community commitment.

The Rhodes Scholarships are the oldest international fellowship awards around the world. 32 young Americans are selected each year as Rhodes Scholars from 300 American colleges and universities. These scholars are chosen for outstanding scholarly achievements along with character, commitment to others, and for their potential leadership in their career aspirations. The Rhodes Trust, honoring Cecil J. Rhodes, provides full support for Rhodes Scholars to pursue a degree at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Texas A&M’s 2014 nominees for these prestigious fellowships include:

Philip Cho – Rhodes Scholarship Nominee

Carli Domenico – Rhodes Scholarship Nominee, Mitchell Scholarship Nominee

Annabelle Hutchinson – Rhodes Scholarship Nominee, Marshall Scholarship Nominee

Madeline Keyser – Rhodes Scholarship Nominee

Jack Reid – Rhodes Scholarship Nominee, Marshall Scholarship Nominee, Mitchell Scholarship Nominee

Austin Wang – Marshall Scholarship Nominee

Philip Cho ’14, Rhodes Scholarship Nominee

Philip Cho ‘14, a philosophy major with a minor in classical studies, has been nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship to study Ancient Philosophy at Oxford University. Cho has served as Inspector General Corporal and Fireteam Leader for the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and leads praise at Korean churches. He has traveled extensively, including intense personal study in the UK. Cho completed an undergraduate thesis on the works of Aristotle and Kant and is continually seeking new knowledge for the sake of learning. He is praised by his professors and mentors for his intellectual curiosity, extensive reading, and careful writing.

Carli Domenico ’15, Rhodes and Mitchell Scholarships Nominee

Carli Domenico ‘15, a university studies-Honors major with minors in psychology and philosophy, has been nominated for both the Rhodes Scholarship and the Mitchell Scholarship. Domenico has been highly engaged in campus programs including being selected for the University Scholars program, serving as an Undergraduate Research Ambassador, as an executive for Invisible Jungle, and organizing a campus 5K race benefitting New Horizons childrens’ shelter for Maggies. She completed a thesis analyzing effects of anti-inflammatories on pain processes with the Undergraduate Research Scholars in Dr. Meagher’s health and pain neuroscience laboratory. Domenico has also traveled abroad, studying Spanish language, art and culture at Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid, and interned for NASA at the Lyndon Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she conducted studies on astronaut sleep and cognition. She plans a career dedicated to improving the global understanding of neuroscience.

Annabelle Hutchinson ’15, Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships Nominee

Annabelle Hutchinson ‘15, a political science and economics double major, has been nominated for both the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship, and hopes to study International Relations at Oxford University. Hutchinson has been highly engaged as a mentor, serving the Aggie Scholars Promoting Incentive, Resources and Encouragement (ASPIRE) program, as a Fish Camp counselor, and coordinating with her rural high school superintendent to improve SAT preparation and test-taking resources. As a member of the Academy for Future International Leaders, she developed a campus organization, VOICE, to share international news with fellow students. Hutchinson has been a research assistant for the Project for Equity, Representation, and Governance and is currently conducting research for her thesis in the Undergraduate Research Scholars program of higher education for economic growth.

Maddie Keyser ’15, Rhodes Scholarship Nominee

Madeline Keyser ‘15, an English and German double-major, has been nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship to study the works of Tolkein at Oxford University. Keyser volunteers with Big Event and A&M United Methodist Church. She is a member of the Cornerstone Liberal Arts Honors program and was selected as the Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior for the Texas A&M College of Liberal Arts. Keyser has conducted research abroad in Austria, at Universität Tübingen in Germany, and in the Bodelian Library at Oxford University. In addition to her German language fluency, Keyser has also developed reading ability for Old English by pursuing graduate course work to support her research. Her faculty referees note her qualities of intellectual risk-taking and inner drive. In addition to her fine scholarly qualities, Keyser enjoys running, swimming, rock-climbing and playing piano and cello.

Jack Reid ’15, Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell Scholarships Nominee

Jack Reid ‘15, a mechanical engineering and philosophy double-major, has been nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship, the Marshall Scholarship, and the Mitchell Scholarship. He intends to pursue his doctorate of philosophy as part of the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford University. Reid teaches a class in conjunction with the Invisible Jungle weekly radio program and served as a peer tutor teaching GRE and ACT prep courses while studying abroad at Texas A&M-Qatar. He has participated in research with several different labs and is currently conducting his own research project with medical and industrial applications as part of the Undergraduate Research Scholars program. Reid is consistently recognized by his faculty as a model of curiosity, humility, self-motivation, and enthusiasm. As a University Scholar, Reid also serves as an ambassador for Honors and Undergraduate Research and shows personal leadership in helping prospective students discover the resources available at Texas A&M.

Austin Wang ’15, Marshall Scholarship Nominee

Austin Wang ’15, a biomedical sciences and psychology double-degree student, has been nominated for a Marshall Scholarship to study music performance at the graduate level. Wang, a University Scholar, has very diverse interests that include music, travel, and a desire to become a physician. He plays with both the TAMU Wind Symphony and the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. He studied the history of medicine and the state of biomedical research in Europe on two different study abroad terms in Bonn, Germany. Wang has served as research assistant with two different faculty labs, learning techniques such as DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis. He has also logged 145 hours of volunteer time in the Nuclear Medicine Department at St. Joseph Hospital. Wang is currently conducting genomic research on the hyacinth macaw as part of the Undergraduate Research Scholars program. The nomination committee was particularly impressed by Wang’s willingness to put his medical school plans on hold to commit significant time and effort to developing his skill and passion for music.

Congratulations to all of these amazing nominees! We are proud of your hard work and the fine examples you are of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and selfless service!

Meet Our 2013 National Fellowship Nominees!

By Hayley Cox

Honors and Undergraduate Research (HUR) has nominated nine students for National Fellowships including the George C. Marshall Scholarship, the George Mitchell Scholarship, and the American Rhodes Scholarship!

The Marshall Scholarship finances up to 40 young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree in any field of study in the United Kingdom. The selected scholars’ direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programs contributes to their ultimate personal success.

The Mitchell Scholarship is a nationally competitive award sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance. It was named in honor of former U.S. Senator Mitchell’s contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process and designed to introduce upcoming future American leaders to Ireland, while fostering scholarship, leadership, and community commitment.

The Rhodes Scholarships are the oldest international fellowship awards around the world. 32 young Americans are selected each year as Rhodes Scholars from 300 American colleges and universities. These scholars are chosen for outstanding scholarly achievements along with character, commitment to others, and for their potential leadership in their career aspirations. The Rhodes Trust, honoring Cecil J. Rhodes, provides full support for Rhodes Scholars to pursue a degree at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

HUR’s 2013 nominees for these prestigious fellowships include:

Chris Akers – Rhodes Scholarship Nominee, Marshall Scholarship Nominee
Dillon Amaya – Rhodes Scholarship Nominee, Marshall Scholarship Nominee
Shelby Bieritz – Marshall Scholarship Nominee
Emily Boster –Marshall Scholarship Nominee, Mitchell Scholarship Nominee
Daniel Miller – Marshall Scholarship Nominee
Stephen O’Shea – Rhodes Scholarship Nominee, Marshall Scholarship Nominee, Mitchell Scholarship Nominee
Andy Sanchez – Rhodes Scholarship Nominee, Marshall Scholarship Nominee
Kindall Stephens – Marshall Scholarship Nominee
Philip “Dane” Warren – Marshall Scholarship Nominee, Mitchell Scholarship Nominee

Chris Akers

Chris Akers, a physics student pursuing minor degrees in both math and philosophy, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to study either Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces at the Imperial College London or Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, along with his nomination for the Rhodes Scholarship. Akers is the co-founder and Vice President of the revamped Society of Physics Students at Texas A&M in which he invented Physics Phamilies groups and transformed the leadership structure. He was a Fish Camp Co-chairperson from November 2012 to September 2013, and he assists Dr. Tatiana Erukhimova in her presentations of her famous physics show to children in grade school. Akers has also made three research symposium presentations including his work “Assembly Database for the VIRUS Project” at the TAMU Astronomy Symposium. He is a President’s Endowed Scholar at Texas A&M and was awarded the “Mechanics Scholar” title for his excellent score on Texas A&M’s Mechanics Scholar test. Akers is a runner, plays chess, and trains in Crossfit.

Dillon Amaya

Dillon Amaya, a meteorology student pursuing a minor degree in oceanography, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to study either Ocean and Earth Sciences at the University of Southampton or Polar Studies at the University of Cambridge, along with his nomination for the Rhodes Scholarship. An advocate for exercise, Amaya is a member of the Texas A&M Club Racquetball Team and several intramural teams. He is heavily involved with the College of Geosciences Undergraduate Recruitment Team and has given tours to high school seniors interested in the program for the past three years. Amaya was also the Vice President of the Texas A&M Student Chapter of the American Meteorology Society. He aspires to be a professor of climate sciences or physical oceanography at a Tier 1 research university in either the US or the UK.

Shelby Bieritz

Shelby Bieritz, a biomedical engineering student pursuing a minor degree in mathematics, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to study either Biomedical Engineering at Aston University or Biomedical Research at University College of London. Bieritz has widely spread interests, from engineering to musical performance. She was a member of MSC Town Hall at Texas A&M where she served as the Advertising Executive for the 2011-2012 academic year. Bieritz also organized a regional conference for the National Association of Engineering Student Councils while she was a member of the Texas A&M University Student Engineers’ Council. In the future, the senior hopes to complete a PhD in biomedical engineering with a focus on total artificial heart development in order to create a pediatric heart that can be specialized to a child’s needs and conditions. To accomplish this, Bieritz hopes to manage a laboratory and adapt a heart pump to a variety of congenital heart conditions.

Emily Boster

Emily Boster, an aerospace engineering student, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to study either Engineering Design at the University of Bath or Aerospace Engineering and Management at the University of Glasglow, along with her nomination for the Mitchell Scholarship. Boster interned at Lockheed Martin Space Systems for 12 weeks in summer 2013 and at Space X for 10 weeks in summer 2010. She also works in Texas A&M University’s Astronomical Instrumentation lab. Boster enjoys playing guitar and composing her own music and lyrics, and she recently started playing along with her church’s band in College Station. Throughout her high school and undergraduate education, Boster was awarded with the Astronaut Scholarship, the AIAA Foundation Scholarship, the President’s Endowed Scholarship, and the Aggieland Bound Scholarship. For the past year, the senior also started fostering retired racing greyhounds and has been working on extending the reach of this Austin-based organization to the Bryan/College Station area.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller, an electrical and computer engineering (ECEN) and applied mathematics (APMS) double major, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to study either Advanced Computer Science at the University of Cambridge or Machine Learning at the University College of London. Miller holds a perfect 4.0 GPA at Texas A&M University and has done programming work for both Lincoln Laboratory and Silicon Laboratory. As an Undergraduate Research Scholar, Miller created an energy model for residential solar water heated in which he designed and implemented a data logging and system control board. He is continuing to work on implementing statistical forecasting and predictive control methods to his model. Miller also intends to build a plasma speaker, a Gauss gun and an automated laser flyswatter in his free time. The engineer has been a swimmer since age five and has recently picked up hobbies in running, hiking, and rock climbing. In the future, Miller intends to pursue a Master’s degree in Machine Learning and a Doctorate focusing on renewable energy systems. His overall goal is to improve the global environment, and to address the issues caused by an increasing energy demand.

Stephen O’Shea

Stephen O’Shea, an English student with a focus in creative writing, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to study creative writing at either City University of Kingston University, along with his nomination for the Mitchell Scholarship and the Rhodes Scholarship. O’Shea has worked as a writing consultant with the Texas A&M University Writing Center. He also presented a research project on creative writers in the Writing Center at a conference in Corpus Christi and implemented a university-wide Creative Writing Workshop that began in spring 2013. O’Shea’s work has been published by both “Explorations: the Texas A&M Undergraduate Journal” and “The Eckleburg Project: the Literary Magazine of Texas A&M University.” The creative writing student was selected as an executive for Aggie Leaders of Tomorrow (A LOT) during his sophomore year. He participated in the Texas A&M Jazz Band as Lead Tenor Saxophone and played alto saxophone at Aggie home basketball games with the Hullabaloo Band. O’Shea hopes to be an author of research-based fiction, first by completing and publishing his “From the Land of Genesis” collection, and later he hopes to become a professor.

Andy Sanchez

Andy Sanchez, a chemical engineering student pursuing minor degrees in chemistry and creative writing, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to obtain either a Masters in Advanced Chemical Engineering or a Masters in Catalysis at the Imperial College of London, along with his nomination for the Rhodes Scholarship. Sanchez is a screener and editor for the Callaloo Journal of African Diaspora Arts and Letters. He has also worked as a Catalyst Developer with ExxonMobil Process Research doing supplemental projects in catalyst synthesis and modeling. Sanchez is the Corporate Relations Chair of the Student Engineers’ Council (SEC), an organization which seeks to increase engineering awareness and promote professional development of students. He is also a member of the Alpha Psi Omega Theatre Honors Fraternity, and he acted as a Sophomore Honors Advisor. The chemical engineering student has been recognized as a University Scholar, a 2013 Craig Brown Outstanding Senior English Engineer, and an American Chemical Society Scholar. In the future, he plans to pursue research with a focus in petrochemical catalysis, and to ultimately rise to a technical management position to coordinate this research.

Kindall Stephens

Kindall Stephens, an environmental design student, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to study Architecture at either the Architectural Association or London Metropolitan University. Stephens worked for LaMarr Womack & Associates Architects as an architectural intern in summer 2013 and has attended four national conferences for the American Institute of Architecture Students. Stephens was a Fish Camp counselor at Texas A&M University, and she has served as Career Fair Coordinator and President for the university’s chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students for the past two years. She is an active member of Habitat for Humanity at Texas A&M and is on the founding committee for a new campus wide service organization called BUILD. She was a member of the Best Overall Team at Design Workshop’s Design Week, a National Winner of AIAS and SAGEW Foundation Renewing Home Student Design Competition, and AIA Brazos Scholarship Recipient. In the future, the architecture student plans to obtain her architectural license and to work as both an architect and a professor.

Philip “Dane” Warren

Philip “Dane” Warren, an economics student pursuing a minor in art & architecture history, has been nominated for the Marshall Scholarship to study either International Public Policy at the University College of London or Global Environment, Politics, and Society at the University of Edinburgh, along with his nomination for the Mitchell Scholarship. Warren has worked for Camp Invention during most summers, but spent this past summer interning with Clean Water Action. Warren was also a Teaching Assistant for the course Energy, Resources, and their Use and Importance to Society. Next semester he will be a Section Instructor, teaching students about the energy industry and writing skills. Warrens work with partner Mariah Lord “Cap and Trade and Global Compromise” was published in Explorations: The Texas A&M Undergraduate Journal. He is currently working on a project to evaluate the effectiveness of residential water utility pricing programs and is the Chair of the Aggie Green Fund Advisory Committee. He is also a Team Leader in Texas A&M’s The Big Event, a student-led volunteering project. Warren presented his research at an academic conference in Hiroshima, Japan and has been recognized as a Texas A&M University Honors Student and Undergraduate Research Scholar.

HUR would like to congratulate all of these outstanding nominees and wish them luck in the selection process for the Marshall, Mitchell, and Rhodes Scholarships! We are so proud of your hard work!

Manago Selected as Finalist for Rhodes, Marshall Scholarships

Texas A&M University former student Bianca Manago has been selected as a finalist for both the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships, the two most prestigious and highly-coveted academic scholarships available to United States students.

The Marshall Scholarship is tenable for two years of graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom; the well-known Rhodes Scholarships are tenable for two to three years of graduate study at Oxford University.  Among the most competitive scholarship competitions in the world, only about 4% the nationwide pool of over 1,000 university-nominated applicants receive either award.

Rhodes and Marshall Finalist Bianca Manago

A 2011 recipient of the Brown-Rudder Award, Bianca Manago is from Lansing, Kansas.  Nominated for both the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship, Bianca graduated with a double-major in Sociology and Philosophy in May, 2011.  As a student at Texas A&M, she co-founded the social and environmental justice groups One Love and One Aggieland. She has since gone on to be an advisor for One Aggieland and has developed a special topics course on Global Social Justice Leadership.  As an Undergraduate Research Scholar under Dr. Jane Sell, she completed a senior thesis and presented her findings at the Social Dilemmas Conference 2010 and the Southwestern Sociological Association Annual Meeting 2011.  Bianca currently works for the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture as the program coordinator for the Global Coffee Quality Research Initiative, responsible for project development, finances, communication, marketing, social media, and research proposal development and management. A former high school Academic All-American soccer player, Bianca has competed in several half marathons, duathlons, and triathlons. Through the Rhodes Scholarship, she will study philosophy at the University of Oxford, and if awarded a Marshall Scholarship, she will study philosophy at the University of Essex.  In the long term, she hopes to become a philosophy professor.

Finalist interviews for the Marshall Scholarship took place at the British Embassy in Houston on November 8.  Manago will return to Houston to interview for the Rhodes Scholarship on November 18 and 19.  Taking place at the Federal Circuit Courthouse and at the home of former Rhodes Scholar and federal judge Keith P. Ellison, the two-day selection process will include a luncheon, a “cocktail hour,” and a 30-minute interview.

Of the 20 finalists in the Houston region, five Marshall Scholars will be selected.  For the Rhodes, only two scholars will be chosen from the district.

The Marshall Scholarships began in 1953 as a gesture of thanks from the British Government for the US assistance in rebuilding Europe after World War II. Former Marshall Scholars include Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and New York Times Foreign Affairs columnist Thomas Friedman.  According to the Marshall Scholarship Foundation, as future leaders, Marshall Scholars are “expected to strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging, and their time as Scholars enhances their intellectual and personal growth. Their direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programmes contributes to their ultimate personal success.”  Only 40 Marshall Scholars are selected each year.

The Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest international fellowships, were initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford.  The primary qualification for a successful candidate is intellectual distinction, although the selection committees also seek excellence in qualities of mind and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead.  Through the years, Rhodes Scholars have pursued studies in all of the varied fields available at the University of Oxford, where they are elected for two years of study, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. Notable Rhodes Scholars include former US President Bill Clinton, NBA Hall-of-Fame inductee and Senator Bill Bradley, and Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Kris Kristofferson.  Only 32 American Rhodes Scholars are selected each year.

Because of the fierce competition for these scholarships, the preliminary process to be selected as an official University nominee is quite rigorous.  Currently enrolled students and recent graduates should apply for selection in late April or early May, with the official deadline for the scholarships being in early October.  To be awarded the University’s nomination, a student must show strong scholarly potential, demonstrated through their academic record and letters of recommendation from faculty, leadership ability, demonstrated through their involvement in student and civic organizations, and excellent speaking and analytical skills, as demonstrated in a series of interviews.

Once approved, prospective nominees can expect to spend months developing their applications as they work closely under the advice and guidance of faculty and academic advisors.  The official announcement of university endorsement is made only after the nominees submit their finalized application to the scholarship foundations.

Throughout its history, Texas A&M University has produced seven Rhodes Scholars and five Marshall Scholars, the most recent being biochemistry and genetics major Nick Anthis for the Rhodes in 2005 and environmental design major Faye Hays for the Marshall in 2007.  In last year’s competition, Biochemistry and Genetics major Kristin Carter was selected as a finalist for the Marshall Scholarship, and in 2009, Biochemistry and Genetics major Ella Doerge was selected as a finalist for the Rhodes.  Since 2000, eleven Aggies have been selected as finalists for the Marshall Scholarship and four have been selected as finalists for the Rhodes.

For more information, please contact Mr. Kyle Mox, National Scholarships Coordinator in the Honors Programs office – (979) 845-1957 or kemox@tamu.edu.

Five Students Nominated for Rhodes, Marshall Scholarships

Five outstanding students at Texas A&M University have been nominated for the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships, the two most prestigious and highly-coveted academic scholarships available to United States students.

The Marshall Scholarship is tenable for two years of graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom; the well-known Rhodes Scholarships are tenable for two to three years of graduate study at Oxford University.  Among the most competitive scholarship competitions in the world, only about 4% the nationwide pool of over 1,000 university-nominated applicants receive either award.

A Genetics and Biochemistry double-major from Madison, Mississippi, Matthew Grunewald has been nominated for both the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship.  A University Scholar and a University Undergraduate Research Fellow, Matt’s research interests are in gene therapy. A recipient of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and the Astronaut Foundation Scholarship, he has conducted research at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, at Essen University Hospital through the DAAD-RISE program, and at Texas A&M under Dr. Jean-Philippe Pellois.  An active member of the University Honors Program, Matthew has served as an Honors Housing Community Peer Advisor.  He is also active in the Biochemistry and Genetics Society.  Through these scholarships, he will have the option of studying at University College London, University of Cambridge, or the University of Oxford.  In the long term, he intends to pursue an M.D. /Ph.D. degree in cell and molecular biology and later conduct research in gene therapy and immunology.

Nominated for the Marshall Scholarship, Maria Elise Lopez, from Austin, is an International Studies major.  She is currently a volunteer with Communities in Schools, an AmeriCorps program, through which she mentors and tutors at-risk students in the Austin area.  She has previously served as a bilingual tutor with the Texas A&M Reads and Counts program and as an intern with College Forward, a non-profit organization that provides college access and college persistence services to motivated, economically disadvantaged students.  She has previously studied abroad in Monterrey, Mexico, and this past summer, she also worked as an intern with Centro de Acogida al Refugiado, an international refugee processing center in Seville, Spain.  Through the Marshall Scholarship, Maria will have the opportunity to pursue graduate programs in migration studies at the University of Sussex and refugee studies at University of East London.  Her long-term goals are to work for a non-governmental organization that promotes peace, diplomacy, and cultural learning or an international relief agency such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

A 2011 recipient of the Brown-Rudder Award, Bianca Manago is from Lansing, Kansas.  Nominated for both the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship, Bianca graduated with a double-major in Sociology and Philosophy in May, 2011.  As a student at Texas A&M, she co-founded the social and environmental justice groups One Love and One Aggieland. She has since gone on to be an advisor for One Aggieland and has developed a special topics course on Global Social Justice Leadership.  As an Undergraduate Research Scholar under Dr. Jane Sell, she completed a senior thesis and presented her findings at the Social Dilemmas Conference 2010 and the Southwestern Sociological Association Annual Meeting 2011.  Bianca currently works for the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture as the program coordinator for the Global Coffee Quality Research Initiative, responsible for project development, finances, communication, marketing, social media, and research proposal development and management. A former high school Academic All-American soccer player, Bianca has competed in several half marathons, duathlons, and triathlons. Through the Rhodes Scholarship, she will study philosophy at the University of Oxford, and if awarded a Marshall Scholarship, she will study philosophy at the University of Essex.  In the long term, she hopes to become a philosophy professor.

Nominated for the Marshall Scholarship, Meteorology major Ethan Nelson is from Carlsbad, New Mexico.  As an Undergraduate Research Scholar, he has already completed a thesis, “Testing Linear Diagnostics of Ensemble Performance on a Simplified Global Circulation Model,” and is continuing his research on ensemble predictability under Dr. Istvan Szunyogh.  In July, Ethan was the sole undergraduate in attendance at the Advanced Mathematical Methods to Study Atmospheric Dynamical Processes and Predictability summer school at the Banff International Research Station in Alberta, Canada.  He has worked repeatedly at the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a Student Forecaster Intern. Active in campus life, Ethan is the Student Senator for the College of Geosciences, also serving in the Student Senate Caucus Leader and a member of the Constituency Affairs committee overseeing Senate interaction with the student population. A talented musician, he weekly serves as a pianist at the A&M United Methodist Church.  If awarded the Marshall Scholarship, Ethan will study for a PhD in Atmosphere, Oceans, and Climate at the University of Reading.  In the future, he plans to become a professor and at some point move over to a scientific advisor position for the government.

A native of Arlington, James “Cory” Perkins studies Physics, with minors in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics.  A University Scholar and a Mechanics Scholar, Cory has been involved in significant materials science research throughout his undergraduate education.  Through his work as an undergraduate researcher under Dr. Kolomenski, he has been co-author on two conference abstracts.  He has also conducted classified research through the National Security Agency, through which he learned quantum optic experimental techniques by characterizing optical equipment.  In terms of service and community involvement, Cory has been involved in Fish Aides and has played for the Texas A&M men’s club volleyball team. Cory has also been active through the church, organizing a spring retreat and working as a counselor at Sky Ranch, a Christian summer camp.  He has also had the opportunity to participate in mission trips to Latvia and Jamaica. If selected for either the Rhodes Scholarship or Marshall Scholarship, he will study for a doctorate in Photovoltaic or Semiconductor Materials at the University of Oxford.  His long term goals are to conduct research in energy storage and solar power collection, perhaps as a university professor.

The nominees will hear of their selection as finalists in the next one to two weeks.  Finalists will then participate in regional or district interviews in November.  The announcement of scholars will be announced by the foundations shortly thereafter.

The Marshall Scholarships began in 1953 as a gesture of thanks from the British Government for the US assistance in rebuilding Europe after World War II. Former Marshall Scholars include Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and New York Times Foreign Affairs columnist Thomas Friedman.  According to the Marshall Scholarship Foundation, as future leaders, Marshall Scholars are “expected to strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging, and their time as Scholars enhances their intellectual and personal growth. Their direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programmes contributes to their ultimate personal success.”  Only 40 Marshall Scholars are selected each year.

The Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest international fellowships, were initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford.  The primary qualification for a successful candidate is intellectual distinction, although the selection committees also seek excellence in qualities of mind and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead.  Through the years, Rhodes Scholars have pursued studies in all of the varied fields available at the University of Oxford, where they are elected for two years of study, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. Notable Rhodes Scholars include former US President Bill Clinton, NBA Hall-of-Fame inductee and Senator Bill Bradley, and Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Kris Kristofferson.  Only 32 American Rhodes Scholars are selected each year.

Because of the fierce competition for these scholarships, the preliminary process to be selected as an official University nominee is quite rigorous.  Currently enrolled students and recent graduates should apply for selection in late April or early May, with the official deadline for the scholarships being in early October.  To be awarded the University’s nomination, a student must show strong scholarly potential, demonstrated through their academic record and letters of recommendation from faculty, leadership ability, demonstrated through their involvement in student and civic organizations, and excellent speaking and analytical skills, as demonstrated in a series of interviews.

Once approved, prospective nominees can expect to spend months developing their applications as they work closely under the advice and guidance of faculty and academic advisors.  The official announcement of university endorsement is made only after the nominees submit their finalized application to the scholarship foundations.

Throughout its history, Texas A&M University has produced seven Rhodes Scholars and five Marshall Scholars, the most recent being biochemistry and genetics major Nick Anthis for the Rhodes in 2005 and environmental design major Faye Hays for the Marshall in 2007.  In last year’s competition, Biochemistry and Genetics major Kristin Carter was selected as a finalist for the Marshall Scholarship, and in 2009, Biochemistry and Genetics major Ella Doerge was selected as a finalist for the Rhodes.  Since 2000, eleven Aggies have been selected as finalists for the Marshall Scholarship and four have been selected as finalists for the Rhodes.

For more information, please contact Mr. Kyle Mox, National Scholarships Coordinator in the Honors Programs office – (979) 845-1957 or kemox@tamu.edu.