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Shaitelman '00 receives annual Sachs Scholarship

A musician, scholar and achiever in several disparate subjects, Ken Shaitelman '00 is the 31st recipient of the Daniel M. Sachs '60 Scholarship, which will allow him to study for two years at Oxford University in England after he graduates from the University.

Shaitelman, a Classics major who will also receive certificates in the Wilson School and in Russian studies, will work toward his M.Phil. at Oxford in Russian and Eastern European Studies.

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"While I'm at Oxford, I hope to study East-West cultural relations, how Russia and the U.S. can foster greater cultural activity, in terms of music and culture," Shaitelman said.

Shaitelman's diversity of interests and success in several University departments made him the most attractive candidate for the scholarship, according to David Loevner '76, scholarship fund spokesman and selection committee member.

"He fulfilled all the requirements for his major and two certificates," Loevner said. "And he excelled equally in those three areas. You can't find any blemish at all on his record."

Shaitelman agreed that his variety of interests played a major role in his being chosen to receive the award. "If I had to pick one thing that stood out, I think it would be my spread of interests. I've done substantial work in each of my departments," Shaitelman said.

Loevner added that Shaitelman also had an excellent transcript.

"Ken had simply fantastic grades. I don't think I have ever seen anyone with an academic record like this," Loevner said.

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The pool of 26 students from which Shaitelman was chosen was "an exceptionally strong group of candidates," Loevner said. "Ken is absolutely outstanding, but he faced some real competition this year."

The Sachs Fund was initiated in 1970 in memory of Daniel Sachs '60, a Rhodes Scholar and an all-Ivy League running back. When Sachs died from cancer at age 28, several of his friends from both Oxford and Princeton established the fund to raise money for the education of his young daughter. But after Sachs' widow remarried and the funds were no longer needed, the scholarship was given yearly to a Princeton graduate.

The scholarship fund is administered by former recipients of the award. The scholarship is intended for "someone whose future career is likely to be of a benefit to the public," Loevner said.

Option

Although the majority of recipients choose to attend Oxford, the scholarship offers either two years of financial support at Oxford or one year of support doing "anything else," as long as it is approved in advance by the selection committee, Loevner said.

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While he is "looking forward" to his time at Oxford, Shaitelman said he recognizes the importance of completing his senior year successfully. During his last few months at the University, he said he hopes to "keep up with current events but – most importantly – finish my thesis."

Although Shaitelman said he has not decided exactly what he wants to do after he finishes school, he agrees with Loevner that Oxford is an ideal place to discover what he wants to ultimately accomplish.

"Oxford is a place where people aren't pigeonholed, a place you can indulge your interests and fantasies and wipe away all regret for what you didn't get at Princeton," Loevner said.