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| Danielle Neighbour and Jake Smith. |
Rhodes Scholars are elected for two years of study at Oxford University in England, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. Both students will interview in Chicago on Nov. 19.
The prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship funds graduate study for one year at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Danielle will interview for the Schwarzman Scholarship, which was modeled on the Rhodes, on Nov. 7 in New York City.
More than 1,500 undergraduates apply for the 32 Rhodes Scholarships each year.
"The competition is intense," said University of Arkansas Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz. "Having two finalists selected is a real testament to their extraordinary accomplishments and to the tireless mentoring they receive from faculty. Both Danielle and Jake have taken full advantage of the exceptional opportunities we have to offer on this campus, including study abroad and undergraduate research. We wish them the best in these competitions, but more importantly, in what will certainly be distinguished professional careers.”
Neighbour, an Honors College Fellow from Lenexa, Kansas, is a senior civil engineering major in the College of Engineering. Her interest in expanding access to clean drinking water has taken her across the globe.
“I am humbled to have been named a finalist for both the Rhodes and the Schwarzman Scholarships. The opportunity to represent the University of Arkansas on this scale is an honor,” Neighbour said. “I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and support from the College of Engineering faculty and from my scholarship advisors, and for the financial support from the Honors College that has done so much to help broaden my experience. I look forward to meeting other finalists and to having this opportunity to discuss water issues with the distinguished selection committees.”
Truman, Rhodes and Schwarzman Scholars are all selected in part on the basis of their potential to be leaders. Academic accomplishment and a commitment to serving others are also key components. Neighbour is the first U of A student to interview for the Schwarzman Scholarship.
“Danielle Neighbour will without question become a global leader,” said Micah Hale, chair of the Department of Civil Engineering. “She has a passion for making potable water available to everyone. She knows this will require an intimate knowledge of environmental engineering, policy-making, and international development, and she applied for these two distinguished awards in order to bring these various aspects of community development together. She has been preparing for global engagement since she arrived on our campus. We are very proud of her and wish her well in both competitions.”
As an undergraduate, Neighbour helped install point-of-use drinking water technologies in southeast Ecuador, where she spearheaded the construction of an Amazonian community’s first permanent potable water source. In Belize, she developed an education program about a recently installed water tower for the residents of an inland village. Neighbour has also traveled to Vietnam to help lead water sanitation and hygiene presentations for elementary school students.
At the University of Arkansas, she has assumed leadership roles in many organizations. She served as secretary of the American Society of Civil Engineers, where she helped organize student events and service projects, and authored a technical paper on engineering ethics in developing nations for the national society competition. She also received a grant from the National Science Foundation to pursue research as an undergraduate.
“I have had the good fortune to have both Danielle Neighbour and Jake Smith in my Leadership Principles and Practices course, a course designed for graduate students, but a limited number of undergraduates are allowed to enroll,” said John White, Distinguished Professor of industrial engineering and former University of Arkansas chancellor. “Teaching students who are so capable and so committed to serving others really makes me feel good about our future despite the serious problems we face. Danielle and Jake are terrific representatives of the University of Arkansas. They are thoughtful and passionate leaders who are preparing to tackle big issues. They would both be notable Scholars, but regardless of the outcome, they will make us proud for years to come.”
University of Arkansas students who are interested in applying for scholarships like the Schwarzman should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu.
About the Rhodes Scholarship: The award was created after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902 and is intended to bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. The first American scholars were elected in 1904, and Neil Carothers of the University of Arkansas was among that first cohort. The University of Arkansas has had 10 Rhodes Scholars, the most recent being Anna Terry in 2001.
About the Schwarzman Scholarship: Launched in 2016 by Steven A. Schwarzman, the scholarship allows for post-graduate study at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Every year 200 scholarships are awarded to students from the United States, China, and other countries. Approximately 90 U.S. students are named Scholars each year, while 40 scholarships are awarded to Chinese students and 70 to students from around the world.
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For more opportunities for funded graduate study & research abroad, check out this article from Diversity Abroad: http://www.diversityabroad.com/guides/study-and-research-fellowships/study-and-research-fellowships
For additional general scholarships for study abroad, please check out http://studyabroad.uark.edu/funding.
