Two African Americans Win Marshall Scholarships

In 1953 the Marshall Scholarships program was established by an act of the British Parliament. Funded by the British government, the program is a national gesture of thanks to the American people for aid received under the Marshall Plan, the U.S.-financed program that led to the reconstruction of Europe after World War II. The scholarships provide funds for two years of study at a British university, travel, living expenses, and a book allowance. Applicants must earn a degree at an American college or university with a minimum of a 3.7 grade point average.

Up to 40 Marshall scholarships can be given out each year. This winter the Marshall Foundation selected 31 winners. While there is no official data on race, it appears from JBHE’s research that two of the new Marshall scholars are African Americans.

Ariel Eckblad was the valedictorian of the Class of 2010 at Spelman College in Atlanta. The California native majored in political science and comparative women’s studies at Spelman. She is currently a Fulbright scholar, conducting research in India on women in politics. Before winning the Marshall scholarship, she had planned to enroll at Harvard Law School.

Kristen Hall will graduate from the University of Pennsylvania this spring with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School and a bachelor’s degree in international studies with a minor in mathematics from the School of Arts and Sciences. She will go to Oxford University next fall to study financial and developmental economics.

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