Nov. 6, 2003

Contact: Sue Lorenz, KU Honors Program, (785) 864-3374.

2 KU scholars advance in Rhodes, Marshall national competitions

LAWRENCE -- Two University of Kansas scholars have advanced in the national competition for the prestigious graduate Rhodes and Marshall scholarships for study in Great Britain.

Jameson Reece Jones, Highland Village, Texas, senior in American studies and in civil engineering has advanced in the competitions for both a Rhodes and a Marshall scholarship. Jennifer L. Sweeton, Overland Park and Kansas City, Mo., senior in psychology and in French, has advanced in the Rhodes competition. (Expanded biographies are below)

KU students have won 24 Rhodes scholarships since 1904, more than all other Kansas colleges and universities combined, and nine Marshall scholarships since 1965.

John Gronbeck-Tedesco, interim director of KU's honors program, announced that two have advanced in the national competitions during a Nov. 5 reception for KU scholarship nominees.Jones will travel to Chicago Nov. 13 and 14 to be interviewed with the Marshall finalists for the Midwestern region. The interviews are conducted in the British consulate's office. Winners will be announced in early December.

Jones and Sweeten will compete with other Kansas Rhodes semifinalists Nov. 18 and 19 in Lawrence. Two finalists from each state will be selected to compete at the regional level Nov. 21 in St. Paul, Minn., and four winners are selected in each region. The 2004 Rhodes scholars will be announced the evening of Nov. 22.

Rhodes and Marshall scholarships provide more than $50,000 for two years of study. Thirty-two Rhodes scholarships are awarded annually among eight regions of the United States and 40 Marshalls from eight regions throughout the United States.

Rhodes scholarships may be used only at Oxford University; Marshall scholarships, at any British university; and Churchill scholarships (for natural sciences, mathematics or engineering), at Cambridge University. The Rhodes scholarship program has offered scholarships since 1903. The first Marshall scholarships were offered in 1953. Cecil Rhodes, a British philanthropist and colonist, established the Rhodes scholarships in 1902. U.S. students ages 18 through 24 who have demonstrated high academic achievement and leadership are eligible to apply for a university nomination.

The British government founded the Marshall scholarships in 1953 to express gratitude for the Marshall Plan. Marshall scholarships have no specific age restrictions and are for recent graduates with similar demonstrations of academic excellence and leadership qualities.

Brief biographical information for Jennifer Sweeton and Jameson Jones follows here:

KANSAS / MISSOURI
From Overland Park and Kansas City, Mo.

While working as a guidance counselor at Headquarters Counseling Center in Lawrence, Jennifer Sweeton said she recognized the importance of helping people endure pain. She plans to pursue a doctorate in experimental psychology or cognitive neuroscience.

Sweeton is a member of the Cherokee Nation and at KU is an intern in the McNair Scholars Program, which prepares students from traditionally underrepresented groups for doctoral study. She also is one of 26 KU students participating in KU's Biosciences Initative program to increase the numbers of underrepresented minority students in biomedial research. Sweeton established the Rilly Project, a school-supply drive to benefit children in the foster care system. She serves as an appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children in the foster care system.

With Rhodes scholarship, Sweeton would study hemispheric specialization in children with specific language impairment at Oxford University. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society and she received a U.S. Department of Homeland Security scholarship. She has a book in press, titled "A Psychology Major's Guide to Scholarships." In addition to KU courses, she has completed graduate extension courses in psychology at Harvard University. She was captain of a nine-time national cheerleading squad and was a varsity cheerleader at KU. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stan Sweeton. She is an Olathe East High School graduate.

TEXAS
From Highland Village

Jameson Jones is majoring in both engineering and American studies and is among a small percentage of engineering students seeking two degrees. His career goals are focused on shaping national and international policy as it relates to water resources.

He is researching an honors thesis in American studies examining water's role as a basis for cultural development and cultural perspectives influencing the management and use of water. In addition to maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, Jones served as outreach coordinator of Jubilee Cafe, a nonprofit meal service for homeless people in Lawrence, where he raised more funds for the project than anyone previously had. He also volunteers with Natural Ties, a campus organization that integrates college students with the developmentally challenged. He was selected as a University scholar, offered to only 20 students in his class of more than 4,000. He is a member of several honor societies including Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Phi. With a Marshall scholarship, Jones would study water policy issues at Imperial College and the University of Edinburgh. With a Rhodes, he would study history of science and technology at Oxford. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Jones and is an Edward Marcus High School graduate.