University of Michigan endorses students for major scholarships

November 10, 2003
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  • umichnews@umich.edu

ANN ARBOR—The time is fast approaching when the lives of four University of Michigan students could be radically changed.

This week and next, the four—chosen by the Provost’s Council on Student Honors from 15 applicants—will move toward the final stages of competition for the prestigious Rhodes, Marshall and Mitchell scholarships with their University’s enthusiastic endorsement.

The students are:

Raj Gupta of Rochester Hills, Mich., a 2002 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in cellular and molecular biology and a minor in moral and ethical philosophy, is a second-year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania. His interest in biomedical research is targeted toward providing care in resource-poor environments anywhere in the world. [Rhodes]

Johanna Hanink of Ashford, Conn., is an LSA senior majoring in classics with a focus in ancient Greek and a minor in linguistics. She hopes to become a professor of Greek, encouraging others to see how ancient texts are relevant and important to contemporary society. [Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell]

Clair Morrissey of Holt, Mich., is an LSA senior with an honors concentration in philosophy. She plans to pursue a doctorate in philosophy and is especially interested in ethics, social and political philosophy, and the history of philosophy. [Marshall, Mitchell]

Jessica Szczygiel of Haddonfield, N.J., (her family is now residing in Marysville, Mich.), is an LSA senior concentrating in Japanese studies and political science. She is also a Marine Corps officer candidate and hopes to serve as an intelligence officer. Following service in the Marine Corps, she plans to earn a master’s degree in public policy and seek a career as a foreign service officer in the State Department. [Rhodes]

"We are extremely proud of these students and believe they have every chance to achieve their goals," said James Adams, professor of Economics and co-chair of the Provost’s Council. "To arrive at this final group, the council members toured the campus last spring and talked with perhaps 75 to 100 students who expressed interest in applying for one or more of the major scholarships," Adams said. The council received 15 applications and interviewed eight before deciding to endorse four, he said. All three of the two-year scholarships require institutional endorsements of their applicants.

Adams says the council plans to increase and broaden the pool of candidates, noting that there is extraordinary leadership ability among students in all areas of the University. Examples include intercollegiate athletics, the student newspaper, ROTC programs and community volunteer groups.

"Certainly academic achievement is part of the picture for success in a competition like the Rhodes, but so is strong evidence of leadership. Not all students are aware of this, so we want to spread the word," Adams said.

Wayne Petty, associate professor in the School of Music, is the other co-chair of the council. This year, Petty was in charge of the annual Honors Convocation, the second of the three charges of the Provost’s Council.

"The third charge we have," Adams said, "is to provide enrichment opportunities for honors students campus wide." Members of the Provost’s Council on Student Honor for the 2003-04 academic year are: Deborah Ball, professor of education; Susan Brown, associate professor of kinesiology; Stephen Darwal, professor of philosophy; Jan Gerson, lecturer, economics; Elizabeth Goodenough, lecturer, Residential College; Sandra Gregerman, director, UROP; Jessica Hahn, associate professor of music; Laurel Northouse, professor of nursing; John O’Shea, professor of anthropology. Linda Gillum, assistant provost, coordinates the council’s activities under the direction of Lester Monts, senior vice provost for academic affairs, who is the convener of the council.

Related links:

Office of the American Secretary The Rhodes Scholarship Trust

Marshall Scholarship Website

The George J. Mitchell Scholarships