Seven OU seniors will interview in early November with hopes of becoming one of the region’s Rhodes or Marshall Scholars.

The nominees for both the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships are Samuel Scharff, Sarah Swenson, Allen Wang, Matt Bruenig and Matt Deimund. Caleb Gayle applied exclusively for the Rhodes Scholarship. Misheala Giddings applied exclusively for the Marshall Scholarship.

OU has had 27 Rhodes Scholars. The most recent scholar was Andrea M. DenHoed, who graduated in 2008. The last Marshall Scholar from OU was selected 10 years ago.

The Marshall Scholarship enables students to study for two years at any university in the United Kingdom. Marshall Scholars must enroll in either a master’s or Ph.D. graduate program, said Melanie Wright, OU’s Rhodes and Marshall faculty representative.

For selection purposes, the U.S. is divided up into eight regions. Each region will choose 20 to 24 applicants to interview and will select four to six scholars. Interviews will be held Nov. 8 or 9 and scholarship offers will be made the following week. 40 Marshall Scholars will be chosen nationwide, Wright said.

The Marshall Scholarship was created in 1953 by the British government in gratitude for Secretary of State George Marshall’s help in rebuilding Europe after World War II.

“Every year, Britain invites 40 American students to the UK to study and become a part of British culture,” Wright said.

The Rhodes Scholarship, was created in 1903, allows students to spend two years studying at Oxford University in England. The U.S. is divided into 16 districts. Each district interviews 16 students and chooses two to receive the scholarship. Rhodes interviews are held on Nov. 19 and 20. Scholarship offers are announced on Nov. 20. Thirty-two Rhodes scholars are selected from the U.S. each year.

Although many students apply for both the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships, a student can only accept one of the scholarships.

Matt Bruenig, Rhodes and Marshall Scholar nominee
Philosophy senior
Campus Involvement: Students for a Democratic Society, OU Daily columnist
What do you plan on studying abroad? Political theory
Post-graduate plans: Not sure what I want to do.

Matthew Deimund, Rhodes and Marshall Scholar nominee
Finance and accounting senior
Campus Involvement: Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity president, former Crimson Club vice chairman, President’s Leadership Class Adviser, President’s Leadership Class, JCPenney Leadership Program, Outstanding Senior in Finance
What do you plan on studying abroad? If I get Rhodes, I would be at Oxford and I would like to study development studies. I am interested in international development-extreme poverty, water sanitation, and debt financing for poor countries. If I get Marshall, I would do the same type of thing at University of Glasgow (in Scotland) and my second year I would be at the University of Reading. I am looking to use my business skills from my undergrad major to create positive change in developing nations.
Post-graduate plans: I would want to work for some type of NGO like the United Nations or the International Monetary Fund.

Misheala Giddings, Marshall Scholar nominee
International and area studies senior
Campus involvement: Sooners for Israel, OU Integrity Council, OU Hillel, Journal of Global Affairs, OU Votes 2008, CommonGround 2009
What do you plan on studying abroad? Strategic and intelligence studies
Post-graduate plans: Master’s in international relations and security studies

Samuel Scharff, Rhodes and Marshall Scholar nominee
Zoology-Biomedical Sciences senior
Campus Involvement: Athletic department tutor, OU Daily cartoonist, Common Ground co-chairman, The Oklahoma Group, Phi Beta Kappa
What do you plan on studying abroad? Medical anthropology
Post-graduate plans: Go to school and get an MD/MPH. I want to become a physician and a public health policy maker.

Sarah Swenson, Rhodes and Marshall Scholar nominee
Zoology seniorCampus involvement: Genetics research lab assistant, history of science department researcher, PE-ET, Phi Beta Kappa Society, UOSA Integrity Council, University College Peer Learning Assistant
What do you plan on studying abroad? If I am awarded Rhodes, I will study for a second bachelor’s degree in history and English. If I am awarded Marshall, I would complete two, one-year master’s programs, one in history of science and medicine and the other in bioethics.
Post-graduate plans: I hope to attend medical school and become a physician.

Allen Wang, Rhodes and Marshall Scholar nominee
Multidisciplinary studies senior
Campus involvement: Honors Student Association, Alpha Lambda Delta, National Honors Society, Model UN, the WIRE Student Radio/OUTV, Medical Ethics & Issues Discussion Panel, co-leader of OU Global Medical Brigade May 2010
What do you plan on studying abroad? I will study a year in medical anthropology and a year in public health administration. In taking a holistic view from analyzing the socioeconomic and administrative aspect of public health policy.
Post-graduate plans: I will go into medical school with the view of becoming a physician-leader in public health policy, utilizing my clinical experience and my holistic perspective to address core deficiencies in our health system.

**Rhodes Scholar nominee Caleb Gayle did not respond to The Daily questionnaire.