Big news in the Honors College. Justin Poelma, one of our best seniors, is a finalist for a prestigious Marshall Scholarship. He'll interview Nov. 11 for the award. Justin has worked incredibly hard on the application for this award under the guidance of Robyn Curtis, our scholarship officer, and Peggy Varnado, our former scholarship officer who continues to guide our students.
Here's the formal announcement:
The University of Southern Mississippi is pleased to announce that Justin Poelma, a senior Polymer Science major from Ocean Springs, has been named a finalist for the prestigious Marshall Scholarship. Justin has been an exemplary student scholar, working in Dr. Robson Storey's lab for the last 3 and a half years. Prior to this recognition Justin's work in Dr. Storey's lab earned a Goldwater Scholarship. Justin will interview in Atlanta Nov. 11 for the chance to become a Marshall Scholar.
The Marshall Scholarships were founded in 1953 in recognition of the United States' part in rebuilding the United Kingdom after the devastation of World War II. The Marshall awards two years of funding for graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom. Each year 40 scholars are selected from eight regions nationwide. These outstanding students represent the best the United States has to offer in terms of academic excellence, leadership and capacity to serve as an ambassador for relations between the United States and the United Kingdom.