91探花 alumna聽, Class of 2017, has been selected as a Marshall scholar, one of the highest honors available to college graduates in the U.S. She plans to attend the London School of Economics and Oxford University.
鈥淚 was totally shocked,鈥� said McElvaine, 23. 鈥淔irst I felt surprised, followed by an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the amazing team that I had supporting me through this process and throughout my time at UW.鈥�
Founded by an act of the British Parliament in 1953, the awards pay all expenses for up to three years of study at a British university of the student鈥檚 choice. Marshall scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. This year, 48 scholars were selected to pursue graduate study in any field at a UK institution.
McElvaine, who was captain of the 91探花women鈥檚 soccer team, plans to earn two master鈥檚 degrees: one in Inequalities and Social Science from the London School of Economics; and a second in Evidence Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at Oxford University.
鈥淔rom the combination of these programs I鈥檒l be able to deepen my understanding of inequality through interdisciplinary approaches, and hopefully use that understanding to interrupt policy where it might be ineffective,鈥� McElvaine said, who earned her undergraduate degree with a major in sociology and a minor in diversity. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my goal to continue to engage with issues of social inequality through policy making and social justice work.鈥�
McElvaine is the first 91探花student to achieve this honor since Jeffrey Eaton was selected in 2008. This year, more than 1,000 students from across the United States applied for the scholarship, and only 20 candidates in the San Francisco region, which includes Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Northern California and most of Nevada, were selected for Marshall interviews. Five scholars from the region were selected.
鈥淗avana arrived at 91探花as an excellent athlete and has emerged as a scholar, leader and communitarian,鈥� said Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. 鈥淗er experience at 91探花has helped shape her into a true global citizen. In turn, our campus has learned from Havana and been impacted by her immersion. To have lasting impacts on each other is what we hope our university and students experience together. We celebrate Havana鈥檚 accomplishments and her impact on our campus and the world she has traveled.鈥�
Though she was recruited from Denver to the 91探花for her athleticism, she excelled both on the field and off.
鈥淗er academic journey always seemed to be more about growth and improvement than achieving a certain grade-point average for her r茅sum茅. She became an involved and engaged student while at Washington. I feel that competing in Division I athletics really helped her embrace being out of her comfort zone, and I could see the direct correlation in her academic pursuits. She just went for it,鈥� said Lesle Gallimore, head coach of the women鈥檚 soccer team. 鈥淗avana is loud and proud. She has an opinion but is a better listener. She is curious and inquisitive and has a genuine and deep concern for humanity.鈥�
During her studies, she stood out to many faculty mentors, including Alexes Harris, a professor of Sociology.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing opportunity for her,鈥� said Harris. 鈥淲hen we try to shape global citizens, she鈥檚 the perfect example.鈥�
McElvaine was also a recipient of the UW鈥檚 Bonderman Travel Fellowship, a unique award that supports extended, international and independent travel. Her eight-month solo journey included visits to Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, India and Thailand, where she grappled with ideas involving her own identity, and the politics of difference, history and privilege.
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For more information, contact Jackson Holtz at 206-543-2580 or聽jjholtz@uw.edu.