Scholar Names S-Z
Maia Schweizer
US University: Princeton University
Maia is a senior at Princeton University, where she uses geosciences and visual arts as
symbiotic tools to investigate the physical world. She has visited paleontological digs,
meteor craters, hot springs, and even the North Pole to study microbial life in unusual
environments. She hopes to continue with her fieldwork while reading for an MSc in Earth
Sciences at Oxford. Maia sang at Carnegie Hall and performed traditional dances at the Swiss
Embassy before focusing on the visual arts, creating oil paintings for shows at Princeton's
gallery. To unwind, Maia practices at the rifle range, fences sabre, or hikes the mountains
near her native Pasadena, California.
James Scott
US University: University of Texas
James Scott, of Katy, Texas, will graduate from the University of Texas in
May 2004 with degrees in mathematics and liberal arts. James intends to be
a statistics professor, having already researched statistical methods in
particle physics, genetics, geology, and astronomy. An avid volunteer in
local schools, he's also worked with community groups in Houston, Texas in
criticizing the statistical basis of the state governments claims about
improved minority performance on standardized tests. In his free time,
James enjoys reading, writing, scuba diving, and playing goalkeeper for his
club soccer team. He will study mathematics and philosophy of science at
Cambridge.
Joshua Siepel
US University: Texas A & M University
Josh Siepel, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, is a senior studying genetics at Texas A&M University.
He has chaired the Jordan Institute for International Awareness for two years, starting health
and education service programs in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. Josh has interned for the
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology in Washington, DC, and is currently an Undergraduate
Research Fellow, studying policy responses to the "terminator gene" controversy. He is interested
in policy and regulatory issues surrounding agricultural biotechnology. He will read for MSc
degrees in Science and Technology Policy and International Development at the University of Sussex.
Greta Stahl
US University: Michigan State University
Greta Stahl grew up in Shelby Township, Michigan, where she graduated from Eisenhower High School
in 2000. She attained her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 2004 in the areas
of International Relations and History. While there, she was actively involved in policy debate and
achieved much competitive success. She plans to use her Marshall Scholarship to pursue her interest
in arms control and diplomacy by studying for her Master of Philosophy in International Relations at
the University of Oxford. She is the daughter of Gunnel and Ulf Stahl.
Michael Sulmeyer
US University: Stanford University
Michael Sulmeyer is currently Special Assistant to the Principal Deputy
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Michael worked as a defense analyst at the Center
for Strategic and International Studies after graduating from Stanford
University. He is originally from Santa Barbara, California.
Eric Twerdahl Jr
US University: United States Naval Academy
Son of Eric and Robin of New Canaan, Connecticut, Eric was sworn into the class of 2004
on June 30, 2000. The first midshipman in the history of the Naval Academy to double major
in chemistry and English, he has received numerous awards for leadership, ethics, chemistry,
and French. As a Frank J. Scallon research fellow, Eric studied the clinical applications of
nuclear medicine imaging at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. He is
currently working with investigators in the Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics at NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center in a study of the reaction chemistry of the outer planet atmospheres.
At Oxford, Eric will pursue an MSc, after which he plans to attend medical school
in the United States. Ultimately, Eric hopes to become a flight surgeon and Navy astronaut
and to participate as a mission specialist in the first human mission to Mars. In his free time,
Eric enjoys running, fly-fishing, downhill skiing, and playing the guitar.
James Valpiani
US University: United States Air Force Academy
James is a senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy, majoring in Astronautical
Engineering. He currently ranks at the top of his class and was named a
Truman Scholar in his junior year. This spring he has the privilege of
serving as the Wing Commander, leading over 4000 cadets in accomplishing the
Academy's mission of developing the "finest military officers of character."
In October 2004, he plans to pursue a degree in Engineering at Surrey University. Upon his return to the U.S., he will begin flight
training as an Air Force pilot. James aspires to become an astronaut and,
eventually, to influence space policy in the U.S. and around the world.
Nilay Vora
US University: University of Southern California
Nilay Vora entered USC through a program that gave him guaranteed admission to
medical school. Halfway through his college career, Nilay decided to puruse a career
in human rights law. He will graduate from USC with a double major in Mathematics and
Interdisciplinary Studies, a program through which he studies human rights and nonviolence.
Nilay has worked on labor rights issues in Sri Lanka and India, and has served as Editor in
Chief of USC's alternative newspaper, The Trojan Horse. He will Human Rights study at the London
School of Economics.
Elizabeth Wang
US University: University of California, Berkeley
Raised in Napa, California, Elizabeth attended Phillips Exeter Academy and then
the University of California, Berkeley where she will be graduating in May 2004
with a BA in history. Her work as an intern and then as a researcher at the UC
Berkeley War Crimes Studies Center has allowed her to research issues regarding
genocide and international criminal trials. For the past two summers, Elizabeth
interned at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the American Decorative Arts department
where she conducted historical research and assisted a senior curator. She will be
pursuing an MSc in Human Rights at the London School of Economics.
Maya Weilundemo
US University: Texas A & M University
Born in a log cabin in the Ozarks but raised mainly in Mississippi, Maya
Weilundemo has long dreamed of being a writer when she grows up. Though she
entered Texas A&M University with the intention of focusing on her degree in
English, Maya tends toward distraction and so became active in numerous
political organizations, most notably the Green Party, and served as editor
of Agora, a journal for undergraduate humanities research. As a Marshall
Scholar, she will return to her first love, studying Creative and Critical
Writing at the University of Sussex.
Joseph Wells
US University: United States Military Academy
Joe is a senior at the United States Military Academy at West Point,
where he studies international relations and environmental engineering.
Serving as the President of the Model United Nations team, Joe has been
able to develop his interests in peacekeeping and humanitarian
assistance through discussion and debate with peers from across the
world. As a Truman scholar and President of United Students for
Veterans' Health, he continues to volunteer and organize local community
service projects. Upon graduation, Joe will be commissioned as an
infantry officer in the US Army. Having worked with Indonesians
displaced by ethnic conflict, Joe plans to read for a MSc in
International Peacekeeping at the University of Birmingham, focusing on
improving the international community's response to humanitarian
emergencies.
James Wilkins
US University: Bowdoin College
James Wilkins, from Medina, Ohio, is currently finishing an AB in Biochemistry with a minor in
English at Bowdoin College. He has worked at the University of Iowa where he performed mutation
analysis on patients with familial adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, and he plans to conduct genetic
research on osteoarthritis at Oxford University. An All-American high jumper, he is a captain of
the Track team at Bowdoin and has a personal best of 6-10. He is the guitarist and songwriter of
a garage rock band and the co-host of a talk/variety TV show. He plans to pursue a career in medical
science with a combined MD/PhD degree.
Tracy Williams
US University: Stanford University
Tracy Williams is a senior at Stanford majoring in political science and economics.
Her main academic interest is in democratization on which she has published two articles in
university journals. Tracy's activities have included working as a research intern at
Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) and London's International
Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), founding Stanford's international affairs society,
co-ordinating an annual student trip to Haiti, and serving as a dorm resident advisor. Tracy is
an avid social dancer and dances in a performance social dance ensemble. She will study
International History at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Hayley Wolfe
US University: Julliard School of Music
Hayley Wolfe, violinist, is currently pursuing a Master of Music Degree from The Juilliard School.
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Hayley moved away from home at age fourteen to pursue her music
studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. An avid chamber musician, she has performed at New
York's Alice Tully Hall, and Carnegie Hall's Isaac Stern Auditorium. Hayley teaches young violinists
in the New York area, and performs as part of a community outreach program that brings music to places
of need. She will continue her studies in London at The Royal Academy of Music.
Joseph Wolpin
US University: University of Georgia
Joe Wolpin, from Atlanta, graduated the University of
Georgia with majors in history and Russian. He has
spent considerable time in the former Soviet Union,
interning at the American Chamber of Commerce in
Russia and the U.S. Consulate-General in St.
Petersburg. Currently researching Russian politics as
a Fulbright scholar, Joe speaks fluent Russian and has
knowledge of Uzbek and German as well. In his free
time, Joe plays violin and is a fan of baseball and
boxing. As a Marshall scholar, Joe will read for MSc
degree in Russian and Post Soviet Studies at LSE.
Jia Xu
US University: Georgia Institute of Technology
Jia emigrated from China to the U.S. at age eleven. As a high school
student, he interned at NASA Dryden, pursued aerodynamic research at the
University of Maryland, and produced a winning project at the International
Science Fair. At Georgia Tech, Jia served as peer leader, teaching
assistant, and minority education tutor. He also conducted research into
turbulence, applied aerodynamics and naval architecture, and has co-authored
in the Physics of Fluids. He will study International Relations at the LSE
and then Aerospace Engineering at Imperial. The two programs will compliment
each other in his future career in national defense.
