Oct. 28, 2003

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

8 KU scholars enter Rhodes, Marshall, Churchill national competitions

LAWRENCE -- Eight University of Kansas nominees are putting to work years of academic preparation next month to compete for three prestigious graduate scholarships for study in Great Britain: Rhodes, Marshall and Churchill.

Rhodes and Marshall scholarships provide more than $50,000 for two years of study. Churchill scholarships provide about $27,000 for one year of graduate study in engineering, mathematics and science.

KU faculty and administrators will honor the nominees at a reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the English Room of the Kansas Union.

Four KU nominees are competing for two of the three scholarships. Seven are competing for a Marshall scholarship, three for a Rhodes and two for Churchill scholarships.

Thirty-two Rhodes scholarships are awarded annually among eight regions of the United States; 40 Marshalls from eight regions throughout the United States; and at least 11 Churchill scholarships are awarded among competitors from 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.

KU students have won 24 Rhodes scholarships since 1904, more than all other Kansas colleges and universities combined; nine Marshall scholarships since 1965; and one Churchill scholarship since 1999.

The Rhodes scholarship program has offered scholarships since 1903. The first Marshall scholarships were offered in 1953. The first Churchill scholarships were offered in 1963.

The nominees and the scholarships they seek are:

 • Todd Alan Barrett, Hiawatha senior in cellular biology; Rhodes and Marshall
 • John Joseph Daniels, Tonganoxie senior in chemical engineering; Marshall and Churchill
 • Megan MacDonald, Independence, Mo., senior in aerospace engineering; Churchill
 • Jameson Reece Jones, Highland Village, Texas, senior in American studies and in civil engineering; Rhodes and Marshall
 • Sean Thomas Pauzauskie, Topeka senior in English and in cellular biology; Marshall
 • Jennifer L. Sweeton, Kansas City, Mo., senior in psychology and in French; Rhodes and Marshall
 • Branden S. Warden, Springfield, Mo., senior in architectural engineering; Marshall
 • Christina G. Warinner, Overland Park May 2003 graduate in anthropology and in German; Marshall. She was a 2002 finalist for a Marshall scholarship.

Marshall finalists will be interviewed in Chicago in the British consulate's office Nov. 13 and 14, for the Midwestern region. Winners will be announced in early December from Washington, D.C.

Rhodes semifinalists compete at the state level Nov. 18 and 19 in Lawrence. Finalists are selected to compete at the regional level Nov. 21 in St. Paul, Minn. Rhodes winners will be announced the evening of Nov. 22.

Churchill scholar nominees are selected based on their application materials without interviews. The Churchill Foundation selects and announces the winners in early April.

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.

The Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States established its scholarship program in 1959 as an expression of American admiration for one of the great leaders of the free world. The foundation offices are in New York City.

In addition to outstanding academic work, Churchill applicants must demonstrate a capacity for original, creative work and a demonstrated concern for the critical problems of society. Applicants must be enrolled at one of 57 colleges and universities participating in the program, including Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rice University, Stanford University and Yale University.

Brief biographical information on the nominees follows here:

BROWN COUNTY
From Hiawatha
Todd Alan Barrett plans to attend medical school, specializing in oncology. He is working on an undergraduate research project with the U.S. Oncology Corp., surveying attitudes of breast cancer patients who have received different treatment therapies. This December, Barrett will travel as a Kansas Asia scholar to China, where he will tour various clinics and carry out part of his research survey. During his three-week tour, Barrett plans to assess the use of alternative medicine in non-Western oncology practices. With a Marshall scholarship, Barrett would study medical anthropology at Oxford University. He volunteers with the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge and St. Luke's Hospice in Kansas City, Mo., and works as a pharmacy technician at the Kansas City Cancer Centers in Kansas City, Mo. Barrett also has bowled with the Young American Bowling Alliance. With either a Marshall or Rhodes scholarship, Barrett would study at Oxford University. He is the son of John and Marcia Barrett and is a graduate of Hiawatha High School.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Tonganoxie
John Daniels' goals include researching environmentally friendly fuels and teaching chemical engineering at the university level. In his junior year, he studied analytical techniques with Susan Williams, KU professor of engineering, using catalysts to produce hydrogen from methane and carbon dioxide. Daniels has received a national Goldwater scholarship and a Wal-Mart Competitive Edge scholarship. Last summer he received an internship with ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge, La. With a Marshall, Daniels would study at the University of Cambridge. At KU, he received the Summerfield scholarship, offered to the 50 top freshmen men from Kansas. He was invited to give presentations at the 2003 national American Chemical Society and at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Daniels has a first-degree black belt in tae kwon do. He is the son of Joseph and Marilyn Daniels and is a Tonganoxie High School graduate.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Overland Park
Christina G. Warinner graduated from KU in May 2003 with highest distinction and honors in both anthropology and German and is working as a research assistant at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She plans to be an archaeologist specializing in the Maya studies and to teach anthropology. She competed for a Marshall in 2002 and advanced to the finals. With a Marshall scholarship, Warinner would like to study at the University College London's Institute of Archaeology. At KU, Warinner's activities included founding the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Diversity Team to build community across ethnic groups, and serving as president of Women's Space, a community feminist group. She received a Nelson scholarship, which identified her as the most promising senior in her major, and received a German government exchange scholarship to study one year with an eminent Maya scholar at the University of Bonn. Warinner is a competitive swing dancer. She is the daughter of Bill and Candy Warinner and is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

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 a Marshall or 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 of Kansas City, Mo. She is an Olathe East High School graduate.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka
Sean Thomas Pauzauskie plans a career researching neurologically related illnesses. This summer he worked at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., with an Intramural Research Training Award. Last spring, Pauzauskie won KU's Phillip Whitcomb Memorial Essay Contest for his essay, "American Privacy." With a Marshall, Pauzauskie would study at Imperial University the circadian rhythms in patients with ailments such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. At KU, Pauzauskie received the Summerfield scholarship, offered to the 50 top freshmen men from Kansas. He also was selected as a University scholar, offered to only 20 students in his class of more than 4,000. He volunteers with Students for Tutoring Literacy, a campus organization, and coordinated a science literacy program with a local elementary school with funding he solicited from the Office of the Chancellor. In high school, Pauzauskie was a state finalist in golf. He is the son of Bill and Sally Pauzauskie and is a Hayden High School graduate.

MISSOURI
From Independence
Megan MacDonald aspires to be an astronaut and plans a career involving the design and analysis of atmospheric reentry. She is a Boeing scholar and received the KU Whittaker Leadership Award. She was a 2000 Missouri scholar, an award made to the top 100 high school seniors in Missouri. She is a member of two honor societies: Tau Beta Pi, engineering, and Sigma Gamma Tau, aerospace engineering. MacDonald competes with the KU women's rowing team. She has volunteered as a reading tutor for second-grade children as a mentor in YouthFriends, a campus organization. She is the daughter of Kent and Karen Minton and is a Truman High School graduate.

From Kansas City and Overland Park, Kan.
Jennifer Sweeton -- see Johnson County, Overland Park

From Springfield
A third-grade project to study the Taj Mahal ignited Branden Scott Warden's passion for architectural engineering. Warden plans a career in designing systems to improve the lives of others as well as teaching at the university level. He hopes to create buildings that are both energy efficient and environmentally friendly. With a Marshall, Warden plans to study the relationship between structural materials, mechanical systems and resulting health issues at the University of Cambridge. At KU, Warden serves as vice president for Architectural Engineering Institute and Phi Alpha Epsilon, an honorary architectural engineering fraternity. He also is a member of Tau Beta Pi honor society for engineers. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Warden and is an Ozark High School graduate.

TEXAS
From Highland Village
Jameson Jones is majoring in both engineering and American studies -- one of only a few 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.