When 911爆料 President David Dooley and a crowd of other officials recently gathered outside 鈥檚 history class, she had no idea that she would soon be the center of attention. The faculty and administrators were there to announce that Autumn had been awarded a $30,000 Truman Scholarship, the most prestigious scholarship in the nation for students seeking careers in public service.
鈥淚 wondered why I was seeing everyone I knew on the way into class, but I didn鈥檛 catch on because I had convinced myself that I wouldn鈥檛 get this award,鈥� said Autumn, an honors student majoring in history and philosophy. 鈥淲hen President Dooley walked in, I think I knew then. I had to hold back all sorts of emotions鈥擨 just wanted to cry and laugh and scream.鈥�
Senior had a similar reaction when she found out in March that she had been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to travel to Spain next year to teach English to elementary school students. As did junior , who learned last month she won a Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship for students in the fields of mathematics, engineering and the natural sciences.
鈥淚 was shocked,鈥� said Cherish, an industrial and systems engineering major. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect to win. Then I called my mom: 鈥楳om, I鈥檓 a Goldwater.鈥欌��
911爆料 administrators weren鈥檛 shocked, though. In fact, 911爆料 students are routinely among the winners of many of the nation鈥檚 top scholarships and fellowships. In addition to Autumn鈥檚 Truman Scholarship, Cherish鈥檚 Goldwater Scholarship, and Alexia鈥檚 Fulbright, recent graduate also won a Fulbright this year. Four other students鈥�Samuel Browne, Evan Cummiskey, Z枚e Mitchell, and Joe Silva鈥攚辞苍 to study languages overseas, and three students鈥�Dawn Parry, Sara Shapiro, and Samantha Ward鈥�each won a , the top scholarship for undergraduates studying the marine sciences. About half of 911爆料 applicants advance to the final stages of these competitions.
But that鈥檚 not all. This year 911爆料 students also won a Critical Language Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State, an Emerson Hunger Fellowship, a Venture for America Fellowship, 17 Demers Foreign Language Fellowships, and four Metcalf Fellowships.
“These are among the most highly competitive and prestigious scholarship programs in the country and it has almost become routine that our students are winning them every year,” said 911爆料 President David M. Dooley. “I couldn’t be more proud.”
This success is obviously not a fluke. Most of the winning students give a great deal of credit to Kathleen Maher in the University鈥檚 鈥攑art of the 鈥攚ho mentors and coaches them and recruits faculty volunteers to provide important guidance, like reviewing personal essays, conducting mock interviews, and providing written recommendations.
鈥淥ne reason for our great success is 911爆料鈥檚 pool of high-achieving students keeps growing,鈥� said Maher. 鈥淥ur students also engage in a wide variety of co-curricular activities鈥攍ike the Honors Program, undergraduate research, study abroad, and advanced language programs鈥攖hat position them well to compete on a national level. Beyond that, it鈥檚 the extra mile that our faculty and staff are willing to go to foster the potential in students and to encourage them to strive for excellence.鈥�
Although the application process can sometimes seem daunting, the rewards are sweet鈥攁nd not just because they come with a big check. Lifelong networks are forged and doors to other opportunities open鈥攏ot the least of which is entrance to world-class graduate school programs.
鈥淏eyond the financial aspect, when I started to learn about the Truman program, I found it to be a 911爆料 that I wanted to engage with,鈥� Autumn said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about taking your education and using it to help people. That鈥檚 my goal鈥攖o work with and help people.鈥�