Shackelton '03 wins Rhodes, Marshall

Laura Shackelton '03 decided last night to accept the Rhodes Scholarship after she dominated the postgraduate fellowship competition this year, also winning the Marshall.

In a less impressive showing than in previous years, no other Princetonians were selected for either of the coveted postgraduate scholarships. The other Ivies boasted a larger number of winners, with four Rhodes winners at Harvard and two at Yale.

The decision was a difficult one for Shackelton. Even after making up her mind she expressed hesitation last night. "I had decided but now that I say it out loud, I question my decision," she said.

Shackelton is a molecular biology major with a certificate in the Wilson School. She is co-captain of the varsity cross country team and a member of the track team where she holds the current University record in the steeplechase.

Although she was offered both fellowships, Shackelton was only allowed to accept one.

"You can't defer and you can't have both at the same time," said Assistant Dean of the College Frank Ordiway, who is in charge of coordinating postgraduate fellowships. "You have to pick one or the other."

Shackelton said her decision to take the Rhodes was influenced by her email correspondence with Oxford Professor Edward Holmes. "He wrote me a lot about his research and what was going on and I became pretty excited about what he was doing," she said.

Shackelton said she will be working with Holmes at Oxford, mostly in the field of viral evolution while she pursues research in virology.

Shackelton's choice of the Rhodes is not surprising given the history of the scholarship. Only one person has ever declined a Rhodes to take a Marshall or any other scholarship, said Elliot Gerson, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust.

"We make our selections after the Marshalls," he said. "Usually, anyone who has been offered a Marshall and continues in our competition, the implication is that the person prefers the Rhodes and will take the Rhodes if accepted."

Shackelton's double win was not without precedent at Princeton — Lillian Pierce '02 won both awards last year.

Typically, about seven to 10 Marshall des-ignees will continue to compete for the Rhodes, of whom three to four will go on to become Rhodes Scholars, Gerson said. He added that, to his knowledge, Shackelton is one of three Rhodes Scholars who has also won a Marshall this year.

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Like Shackelton and virtually everyone who has been in her position, Pierce declined the Marshall in favor of the Rhodes.

The Marshall Scholarship provides funding for up to 40 American recent college graduates to study at any institution of higher learning in the United Kingdom. Marshall Scholars usually earn graduate degrees, although some will also pursue a second undergraduate diploma.

Rhodes scholarships offer 32 American students and about 63 international students the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford. Both the Rhodes and the Marshall can be used for study in any subject area.

Funding for both fellowships lasts for two academic years but can be extended for up to one more year.

State selection committees for the Rhodes interviewed applicants last Wednesday and sent finalists to district selection committees Saturday where the winners were announced that night. Shackelton was chosen for the Rhodes from 981 initial applicants and 98 finalists.

Shackelton said she enjoyed the Rhodes selection process which includes opportunities for applicants and interviewers to socialize at cocktail parties.

"The Rhodes process was really fun because at both the state interviews and the regional interviews, I got to meet these amazing people," she said. "I felt really privileged to be around such a wonderful group of people. I could not believe that they are giving me this chance to go to Oxford because everyone there was so awesome."

The Marshall selection procedure is not as social. There is only one round of private interviews and no cocktail parties so Shackelton did not get a chance to meet other candidates.

Last year, Princeton students were far more successful in their bids for Marshall Scholarships. In addition to Pierce, three other Marshall Scholarships were awarded to Princetonians last fall.

"We did have more Marshalls last year, but the numbers vary. We tend to have usually about one. Four was exceptionally high," Ordiway said. "One this year is certainly not our best year but it's within the range we expect."

Pierce was one of two Rhodes Scholars from the University last year.

Shackelton was surprised by her own success. "I totally didn't even think there was a chance for me," she said. "I was applying for a bunch of fellowships so I said I might as well do these two." Her advice for potential applicants is to "just try."