Three Win Watson Fellowships to Spend Post-grad Year Overseas

Author: Pierce Graham-Jones

This year, three Middlebury College students received highly competitive Thomas J. Watson Fellowships. Of the 50 prestigious colleges that participate in the program, Middlebury was the only institution with three students chosen. The College has seen three Watson Fellows chosen from each of its graduating class for the past six years. Director of Student Fellowships and Scholarships Arlinda Wickland said, "Two awards is considered a very good yield in light of the competition, so our record is truly exciting." Only 11 other colleges had even two students chosen for fellowships this year.
Middlebury's recipients for 2003-2004, announced last Saturday, are Robert Chisholm '03, Kaitlin Gregg '03 and Alexandra Wang '03. Approximately 1,000 students nationwide vied for the fellowships.
The Watson Fellowship, a program of the Thomas J. Watson Foundation, describes itself as "a one year grant for independent study and travel outside the United States awarded to graduating students at one of 50 participating institutions." By prohibiting applicants from studying at an academic institution, the Watson, according to its Web site, aims to allow its fellows to "have some surcease from the lockstep of prescribed educational and career patterns in order to explore with thoroughness a particular interest." Selected students receive a stipend of $22,000, allowing them to pursue proposals that could -- and often do-- span multiple continents.
In order to be eligible, students must be in their final year at one of the 50 liberal arts colleges invited by the foundation to participate in the program. Each college conducts its own application process, and chooses a predetermined number -- usually four -- of students to compete for the fellowships. This year, Middlebury nominated four students from an applicant pool of about 50. The process demands a huge commitment from the College's Watson selection committee, namely Assistant Professor of History of Art and Architecture Pieter Broucke, Lecturer in English and Film and Media Culture Don Mitchell and Mead Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Steve Trombulak.
Wickland attributes Middlebury's success with this particular fellowship to the hard work and dedication of the selection committee as well as to faculty advisers' intimate relationships with their students. An important part of the application is the faculty recommendations, so an honest personal account of the candidates' qualifications is crucial. Gregg, one of the recipients, was eager to also acknowledge the help of the administration: "We also have a wonderful support network of people who help students to get through the process, most notably Arlinda Wickland in the office of Scholarships and Fellowships," she said.
It then becomes what Wickland calls, "a self-perpetuating cycle." Since students are aware of the success of previous years' applicants, more are apt to apply in future years.
This year, Middlebury had a larger number of applicants than other colleges, which meant that, according to Wickland, "most of our 15 short list applicants are viable candidates."
The informational meeting for students interested in applying for next year's Watson Fellowship is Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 in Bicentennial Hall 104.

Middlebury College Winners of Watson Fellowship

Rob Chisholm -- Environmental Studies major
"Fishing Places, Fishing People: Inshore Community-based Fisheries Management"
Locations: Philippines, Costa Rica, Australia, Kenya
Kaitlin Gregg -- Environmental Studies major
"Harnessing Hope: Sustainable Cities and the Earth Charter"
Locations: Australia, Costa Rica, Italy
Alexandra Wang -- East Asian Studies major
"The Role of the Violin and its Indigenous Variations from East to West"
Locations: China, Mongolia, Turkey, Austria