University senior Tamela Maciel always knew she loved astronomy.
“Maybe it was a book I read when I was younger,” Maciel said. “I used to go around telling everyone that I was going to be an astronaut, but gradually I grew a bit more realistic and
decided to focus on research.”
Now Maciel can study the nature of supermassive black holes and their impact on their ‘host’ galaxies for free with a two-year full-ride Marshall Scholarship to one of 26 United Kingdom colleges — whichever school she chooses.
Marshall Scholarships finance 40 young Americans of “high ability” to study at graduate schools in the United Kingdom. British Parliament established the Marshall Scholarship in 1953 in order to honor former U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall and to honor the ideals of the Marshall Plan­ — a force in rebuilding Europe after World War II.
One of Judith Baskin’s responsibilities as Associate Dean for Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences is to assist students who are interested in being nominated for the Marshall or Rhodes Scholarships.
“This year, I had the privilege of working with three excellent nominees for the Marshall Scholarship,” Baskin said. “I met with them and offered advice on polishing their
application essays.”
Maciel, a physics and mathematics major from Grants Pass, and Michaela Rife, an art history major from Cheyenne, Wyo., were the two finalists from the University. Both studied abroad in the U.K. and are planning to graduate from the University in June.
Rife began the application process in early June last summer, and it turned into the most intensive scholarship application process she has ever experienced.
“I had to get four letters of recommendation and write three important essays,” Rife said. “I have never edited anything more than I’ve edited these essays. I wrote four or five drafts before I submitted anything.”
Maciel said her application process was more laid back.
“I started the application a bit later than I probably should have,” Maciel said. “I only had about a weekend to put my essays together and collect my references.”
When Maciel and Rife were named as finalists and invited for interviews in San Francisco, Baskin arranged practice interviews for each with a panel of appropriate faculty members. Rife was surprised to see her name in this selection.
“I wasn’t getting my hopes up,” Rife said. “I wanted to go to the U.K. for college anyway, and this would have helped, but it was a shot in the dark.”
Then last week, the final selections for the scholarship were announced, and this time it was Maciel who was shocked.
“I was expecting to have to wait until early December to hear any word, so the news was surprising more than anything,” Maciel said. “Of course, I never expected to actually get the award either! I called my family and my boyfriend first, naturally.”
Maciel’s scholarship will cover her University fees, cost of living expenses, annual book grants, thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, and her airplane fares to and from the United States.
“I’m excited to be back in England again, after spending nine months there studying at the University of Bristol last year,” Maciel said. “I love the country and the people and its international place in the world … and that it’s so easy to travel to the rest of Europe.”
Baskin was proud of the work that both students put into the application process, but said Maciel might have had an edge.
“All of the candidates were terrific, but it does seem that the Marshall Scholarship favors people in the sciences,” Baskin said. “So as an aspiring astrophysicist, Tamela certainly fits their profile.”
Baskin said this is only the third time in 55 years that a University student has received a Marshall Scholarship.
Maciel’s first choice university is Cambridge University, with the University of Leicester as second. She’s hoping to seal the deal by filling out additional forms specific to Cambridge University and finding a place there as an astrophysics doctoral candidate.
“This award is first and foremost a tribute to Tamela’s outstanding abilities and achievements,” Baskin said. “It is a wonderful honor for her and for us, and we are very proud of her.”
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