MORTAR BOARD AWARDS $40,000 IN NATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS
Mortar Board National Foundation Chair Sally Steadman, Ph.D., announced that $40,000 has been awarded to 10 outstanding members who plan to further their graduate education during the 2011-2012 academic year. Congratulating this year’s Mortar Board fellows, Dr. Steadman remarked, “The Mortar Board National Foundation is honored to recognize these remarkable scholar-leaders and to support them in achieving their future academic and professional goals. This exceptional group truly exemplifies Mortar Board’s ideals of scholarship, leadership and service.”
Every year, the Mortar Board National Foundation awards fellowships to assist members in financing their graduate studies. Since the establishment of the fellowship program in 1941, more than $600,000 has been awarded to help members pursue graduate or professional school. Annually, members are chosen to receive these competitive fellowships based on a demonstrated record of academic excellence, strong recommendation, scholarly promise, financial need and Mortar Board involvement.
Erina Aoyama
Fellowship: Mortar Board GEICO Fellowship ($5,000)
Undergraduate: University of Washington
Initiation year: 2008
Graduate: Sciences Po, Paris School of International Affairs
Degree sought/field: M.A., international affairs and international communication
Loomee Doo
Fellowship: Mortar Board Ruth Weimer Mount Fellowship ($3,000)
Undergraduate: University of Southern California
Initiation year: 2010
Graduate: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Degree sought/field: M.D.
Kaila Mattson
Fellowship: Mortar Board Fellowship ($5,000)
Undergraduate: University of South Alabama
Initiation year: 2009
Graduate: University of California, Santa Barbara
Degree sought/field: Ph.D., chemistry
Courtney Meyer
Fellowship: Mortar Board Diane Selby Fellowship ($5,000)
Undergraduate: Albion College
Initiation year: 2010
Graduate: School of Oriental and African Studies (London)
Degree sought/field: M.Sc., development studies
Stephanie Katherine Olbrych
Fellowship: Mortar Board Ramier-Coleman Fellowship ($3,000)
Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University
Initiation year: 2009
Additional education: Case Western Reserve University, M.P.H.
Graduate: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Degree sought/field: M.D.
Christine Pao
Fellowship: Mortar Board Zelma Patchin-Washington State Fellowship ($3,000)
Undergraduate: University of Miami
Initiation year: 2009
Graduate: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Degree sought/field: M.D., interest in neurology
 
Breanna Piper
Fellowship: Mortar Board Jane K. Smith Fellowship ($5,000)
Undergraduate: San Diego State University
Initiation year: 2009
Graduate: The George Washington University Law School
Degree sought/field: J.D., public interest law
Robert Edward Starr
Fellowship: Mortar Board Fellowship ($3,000)
Undergraduate: Chapman University
Initiation year: 2009
Graduate: The University of Edinburgh College of Science and Engineering (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Degree sought/field: M.Sc., high performance computing
Cara Waldo
Fellowship: Mortar Board Ellen North Dunlap Fellowship ($3,000)
Undergraduate: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Initiation: 2009
Graduate: The George Washington University Law School
Degree sought/field: J.D., international law
Austin Wesevich
Fellowship: Mortar Board Barbara Cook Fellowship ($5,000)
Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
Initiation year: 2010
Graduate: Washington University School of Medicine
Degree sought/field: M.D.
Mortar Board is the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. Since its founding in 1918, the organization has grown from the four founding chapters to 229 chartered collegiate chapters with more than a quarter of a million initiated members across the nation.
Mortar Board provides opportunities for continued leadership development, promotes service to colleges and universities and encourages lifelong contributions to the global community. Some notable Mortar Board members include distinguished politician Condoleezza Rice, Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees and Suzy’s Zoo creator Suzy Spafford. Learn more about Mortar Board at www.mortarboard.org.