Hopkins junior Katie McDonough was awarded the Beinecke Scholarship for graduate studies in the humanities. McDonough is the first Hopkins student in 13 years to receive the award.
McDonough, a history major with minors in French literature and music, is currently studying abroad in France.
The Beinecke Scholarship is open only to college juniors from eligible universities and awards recipients with a $2,000 grant immediately before graduate school and $30,000 to cover graduate school expenses.
"I really want to go to graduate school to study French history and this scholarship will make paying for it so much easier, and the application process next year a bit less stressful," McDonough said.
"I plan on studying the relationships between the arts and politics in early modern French history, but I am also interested in attempts at constructing utopian societies throughout history," McDonough added.
McDonough spoke of her post-Hopkins plans.
"I have only vague ideas about which schools I will apply to but University of Chicago and Yale are my favorites right now," said McDonough.
"I hope that I will be able to spend some time at Cambridge University in England because the cultural history program there is one of the best in the world," McDonough said.
Applying for the Beinecke award involves completion of an application form, a resume, personal statement, and a financial assessment to demonstrate financial need. Additionally, the student must have a letter of nomination by the institution from a dean and three letters of recommendation from faculty members.
"The essay for the scholarship was hard because I had to squeeze my entire life plan and background into 1000 words," McDonough said.
Faculty members noted that one exemplary aspect of McDonough's application was her contact with professors.
"One thing that made her competitive was how closely she worked with professors," noted Dean Bader.
"One of the reasons why we encourage students to major in smaller programs is to work with professors."
Dean Bader is responsible for guiding and overseeing applications as well as writing recommendations and school endorsements for scholarships such as the Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright. Bader spoke with McDonough, assisted her with her application and wrote an endorsement for her from the University.
"We worked on drafts of her scholarship essay, but most of the work she did overseas," Bader said.
Bader also helped in overseeing other aspects of McDonough's application. "Katie's win, I think is emblematic of our other kind of student dedicated to ideas, learning, and academics."
Bader also commented that humanities students might not necessarily get as much credit on a scientifically focused campus.
"I believe that our humanities majors don't get enough credit around here for their marvelous skills and accomplishments, so I'm especially pleased that a true humanist -- history, music, French -- would win this great honor."
According to Bader, McDonough's receipt of the award is another demonstration of Hopkins students persevering in academics, public servitude, and scholarship.
"As with the Truman, this all growing evidence. Hopkins is a place with talented students and as long as they put in the work, they can be scholars."
Bader also encouraged students to speak with him and ask for help on scholarships, and noted that he would work hard but could not guarantee a scholarship.
"I will walk on hot coals to help them get the best application they can, but won't say whether they'll win or not."
Information on scholarships like the Beinecke is available at http://www.jhu.edu/~advising.
In order to receive similar scholarships like the Beinecke, Bader commented, "It takes the right people, the right coaching, and a good source of luck.
Bader noted Katie as a good example of hard work on an unsurprising, "sophisticated level." McDonough will return to Hopkins in the fall for her senior year of college, where she will apply to graduate school. All grants received from the Beinecke scholarship can be deferred for up to five years.
Barbara Fischer is Hopkins' only other recipient of the Beinecke scholarship, which she won in 1992.
