Last year, Washington University awarded upwards of $47 million in scholarships and grants to undergraduate students. Those involved in the many scholarship programs are often among the most active students on campus. Why, then, are no efforts made to bring students from the various scholarship programs together?
Prospective freshmen must be academically-distinguished and involved with their school and community to be considered for programs like the Annika Rodriguez Scholarships for Hispanic Students or the John B. Ervin Scholars Program for Black Americans. Those who receive the scholarships are clearly thought capable of achieving great things. Once they are here, however, they are essentially kept separate from members of other scholarship programs, at least where program activities are concerned.
It would be simple enough for the various scholarship programs to invite one another to their events. Ervin scholars meet once a month for activities that they organize themselves, according to Dean James McLeod, director of the Ervin Scholars Program. “There are some cultural activities, or sometimes they’ll invite a faculty member for a presentation. Sometimes they’ll do dinner or see a play at Edison and discuss it afterwards.”
These are all activities that could be further enriched by the inclusion of students from other scholarship groups. Students who receive the Mylonas scholarships, under the direction of the Honorary Scholars program, plan to pursue majors in areas including dance, drama, or film and media studies. The two groups could easily see a play together. First-year Danforth scholars, who attend Assembly Series lectures and gather afterwards for discussion, could plan to do so with Rodriguez scholars.
The interest for mixed-scholarship group interaction is there. “I’ve certainly heard students mention it from time to time,” said McLeod. Does he think the students would benefit? “Yes indeed.”
Director of the Honorary Scholars Program Dean Sharon Stahl has heard similar requests. “There have been students who’ve told me that they would really like other kinds of interaction. And I’d be very open to that. I’d love it.”
The ongoing crusade to make Washington University a diverse institution is grounded in the belief that we gain more when exposed to students who are not like us. Stahl may have said it best. “One of the most important things about a university education is interacting with people who are different from you.” The University’s many scholarship programs are a great place to start.