Thirty-two Fulbright Grants…nine Thomas J. Watson Fellowships…six Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships…numerous grants from international foundations. Since 2000, Hamilton students have been awarded 60 prestigious national fellowships and scholarships, in everything from the natural sciences to Asian studies, to enable study at renowned research institutions and travel around the world.
With the help of Ginny Dosch, student fellowships coordinator since 1999, Hamilton undergraduates successfully compete with the best and brightest students in the U.S. for fellowships and scholarships that make it possible for them to attend graduate school, participate in educational exchanges with other countries, or in the case of the Watson Fellowship, "spend a year of self-directed, independent study while traveling outside the U.S. after graduation."
Year after year, Hamilton students do very well in the competitive application processes that result in these prestigious awards. Dosch said that while there is not much "official" statistical information about the total of Hamilton's winners in all national fellowship/scholarship competitions versus peer schools, The Institute of International Education, which administers the Fulbright Grants recently began compiling statistics. In the 2004-05 competition Hamilton was listed by as one of the top producing schools in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Pinpointing why Hamilton students are so successful in these competitions is not easy, Dosch said. She explained that the national awards ask questions – "Imagine where the journey will take you?" "What would you do if you could go anywhere in the world and pursue a project of your own design?" "Are you a change agent?"
She said that nominees and winners unearth the answers to these questions by asking themselves simple, pointed questions: "What am I most passionate about?" "What moves me more than anything else?" "What am I wildly curious about?" "Do I have the foundation, the skills and the wherewithal to put theory to practice, to challenge my assumptions about myself and the world?
"Essentially, the process to pursue national awards requires individuals to explore their interests, passions, ideas and curiosities," Dosch explained, "to connect the dots in ways that may apply to one or more awards."
There isn't a set personal profile or special formula to tackle these questions and to win prestigious national awards. However, winners do have some fundamental characteristics in common, Dosch noted. "Whether they pursue grants to study or research abroad, to carry out a self-designed project or to pursue graduate studies they develop strong academic interests; investigate how their commitments can serve the public good; turn hobbies into passions; find creative ways to nurture interests on and away from campus; conduct research in areas of special interest; seek internships connected/related to their hopes; assume leadership roles on campus; and they explore ways to take their interests and passions to the next level. Simply put," Dosch said, "they engage fully in their lives at Hamilton and in the activities -- whether academic, co-curricular or both -- that bring them joy."
Fellowships and scholarships are open to students in all disciplines and a number of awards, including the Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall and Mellon, are open to alumni.
Following is a round-up of scholarships and fellowships awarded to Hamilton students from this year back to 2000.
2005
National Security Education Program David L. Boren Graduate Fellowship
Supports graduate study of languages and cultures deemed critical to U.S. national security and enables students to add a significant international dimension to their curricula.
Joseph Livingston '02, master's degree in Modern Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas; domestic language study in Arabic at Middlebury College; during the international component of fellowship he will conduct research in Beiruit, Lebanon.
Freeman - Asia Awards for Undergraduate Study
The Freeman - Asia Awards provide funding for undergraduate study in East
and Southeast Asia.
Karen Haedrich '06
Conor Moore '06
Fulbright Grant
The Fulbright program was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries through educational exchange.
Edward Geary '05, Austria, The "Opferrolle" and National Socialism in Austrian Textbooks and Schooling
Shayna McHugh '05, Brazil, Biologically Active Compounds from Brazilian Marine Invertebrates
Brian Tilley '05, India, Patterns of Patronage at Sufi shrines in Aligarh and Bijapur
Nathaniel Adler '05, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea
Jacqueline Kook '05, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea
Elizabeth Lesser '05, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea
Lauren Perkins '04, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea
Daniel Walker '05, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
The Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater is the premier national undergraduate award in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering recognizes exceptional academic achievement and research pursuits.
Mary Beth Day '07
Meghan Dunn '06
James Madison Fellowship
The James Madison Fellowship was established to improve teaching the US Constitution in secondary schools, funds graduate study of American history, government and social studies.
Emily Lemanczyk '05
Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
Watson Fellowships provide funds for graduating seniors of unusual promise to embark on a year of self-directed, independent study while traveling outside the U.S. after graduation.
Hilary King '05, Grounds for Change: Coffee and Cooperatives
Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Tanzania
Kristopher Rios '05, In Search of the Perfect Beat: Rare International Funk Music -- England, Ghana, Brazil
2004
Beinecke Memorial Scholarship
The Beinecke Scholarship enables and encourages highly motivated students to take fullest advantage of graduate opportunities available to them, and to be courageous in the selection of graduate study programs. Scholars are awarded $2,000 for senior year and $30,000 for graduate study.
Jaime L. Volker '05
Fulbright Grant
Elizabeth Rabe '04, Trinidad & Tobago, East Indian Immigration to Trinidad in the Late-Nineteenth Century
Claire Ramsay '03, Morocco, Language Relations: Moroccan francophone newspapers and universities
Duncan Lawrence '04, English Teaching Assistantship, Argentina
Sarah McDermott '04, English Teaching Assistantship, France
Erin Turcot '04, English Teaching Assistantship, Guyana
National Security Education Program David L. Boren Graduate Fellowship
Matthew Zeller '04,
Joint master's degree in public affairs and international relations, Syracuse University's Maxwell School. During the international component of fellowship he will study democratic development in Bahrain.
Society for Applied Spectroscopy Student Awards
Recognizes outstanding student achievement in the sciences using applied spectroscopy.
Jeff Rubino '05, EPR and Vis spectroscopy to study enzyme reactions
Watson Fellowship
Jeffrey Dyer '04
The Soul of the Khmer: Music of the Khmer People
Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
2003
Fulbright Grant
Jessie McComb '03, India, Sustainable Energy and Traditional Arts: Changing Functionality of Traditional Culture
Sarah Taylor '03, Spain, Theoretical Studies on Pharmacologically Important Proteins
James DuVernay, '03
English Teaching Assistantship, Guyana Helena Marrin '03, English Teaching Assistantship, France
Abigail Zeidler '03, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea
Goldwater Scholarship
Shayna McHugh '05
Watson Fellowship
Huy Huynh '03, Acculturation in a New Nation: The Vietnamese Refugees
Thailand, Russia, Germany, France, Philippines
Christopher La Rosa '03
Shaping Media: Evolution through Communication Technology
Tanzania, Uganda, Mexico, Hungary, Slovenia, Finland
2002
Fulbright Grant
Leah Byrne '02, Sweden, Locating endogenous nitrated neurotransmitters: An immunocytochemical study
Donna Cardarelli '02, Russia, Investigating Concepts of Native Identity in Buyratia: Linguistic Culture among Buryat Children
Joseph Livingston '02, Jordan, The Causes of Social Class Composition and Disparity among Palestinian Refugees
David Shaye '02, Dominica, HIV/AIDS in Dominica: An Evaluation and Strategic Plan
Erin Waters '01, Russia, Yaroslavskiie Babushki: Portraits from Today's Russia Daniel Boisvert '02, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany
Charlotte Porter '02, English Teaching Assistantship, Austria
Kerri Spindler-Ranta '02, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea
Goldwater Scholarship
Matthew Liptak '03
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
Awarded for graduate studies to student-athletes who perform with distinction both on and off the field.
Maggie Hanson '02
Watson Fellowship
Ava Bromberg '02, The Public Artist: Creating Space in the 21st Century City
Brazil, Spain, Thailand, Australia, Germany
Morris K. Udall Scholarship
The Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation recognizes interest, study and outstanding work in the area of environment and related fields.
Jesse McComb '03
2001
American Chemistry Association Minority Scholarship
Recognizes outstanding achievement and promise in chemistry and aids in building an awareness of the value and rewards associated with careers in chemical sciences.
Lorena Hernandez '03
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace provides a substantive research experience for outstanding students who have serious career interests in international affairs.
Jeffrey Krutz '01
Fulbright Grant
Jed Barash '01, Iceland, The role of Manganese and Copper in the Initiation of Sporadic Scrapie
Marika Geertz '01, English Teaching Assistantship, Austria
Denise Kless '01, English Teaching Assistantship, Austria
Jodie Stewart '01, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea
Goldwater Scholarship
Lorena Hernandez '03
Ann Marie Toth '02
St. Andrew's Society Scholarship
Designed to promote cultural interchange and goodwill between Scotland and the US.
Caitlyn Cook '01, Ancient history, University of St. Andrew's
Watson Fellowship
Louisa Smith '01, A Globalized World: An Analysis of the International Art Market -- England, France, Netherlands, Australia, Hong Kong
Justin Stein '01, From Dharma to Dollars: Commercialization of Universal Energy --India, Thailand, China
2000
Gates-Millennium Scholarship
Promotes and recognizes academic excellence for outstanding low-income students.
Lorena Hernandez '03
Fulbright Grant
Daniel Little '00, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany
Emily Roynestad '00, Dominican Republic, Women and Development in Free Trade Zones
Hertz Fellowship
Supports the graduate education of America's most promising technical-talent, the Ph.D. directed effort of fellows can be expected to have the greatest impact on the application of the physical sciences to human problems during the next half-century.
John Doench '00
Watson Fellowship
Mark Siedner '00, Societal Influences on the International Fight Against HIV
Senegal, Kenya, Portugal, India, Ukraine
