SHASS selects 36 MIT students as 2018 Burchard Scholars
Students selected as Burchard scholars are some of MIT's liveliest undergraduates. They are unafraid to wrestle with new ideas.
The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences is pleased to name 36 exceptional MIT undergraduates as Burchard Scholars for 2018. The award honors sophomores and juniors who demonstrate academic excellence in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, as well as in science and engineering.
Burchard Scholars can come from any school or department of the Institute, and this year’s honorees major and minor in a range of disciplines, including civil engineering, literature, chemistry, political science, electrical engineering, music, physics, mathematics, biology, media studies and economics. "What binds the group together," says Margery Resnick, professor of literature and director of the Burchard program, "is a powerful curiosity about ideas."
“The Burchard scholars are some of MIT’s liveliest undergraduates,” she says. “Selection is extremely competitive, and the students chosen are unafraid to wrestle with new ideas.”
Two recent Burchard Scholars were honored this year with prestigious awards in recognition of their academic achievement. Mary Clare Beytagh, a 2016 Burchard Scholar, was named a Rhodes Scholar, and Olivia Zhao, also a 2016 Burchard Scholar, was awarded a 2018 Marshall Scholarship.
Ideas and dinner seminars
Named in honor of the School's first dean, John Ely Burchard, the Burchard Scholars Program brings undergraduates together with distinguished members of the faculty for a series of eight dinner seminars that reflect the range of research in the School. Past gatherings have featured talks on: growth, inequality, and well-being: lessons from economic history for uncertain times; what jihadists think and what to do about it; what philosophy tells us about how to make big decisions; whether science can win the war on cancer; U.S. grand strategy in foreign policy; and the art of discovery.
“The Burchard dinners are, for faculty and students alike, an oasis in our busy lives,” Resnick notes. “I look forward to every dinner as the powerful ideas generated by our faculty are reflected upon, challenged, and enjoyed by this wonderful group.”
Expanding horizons
The Burchard gatherings are famous not only for presenting leading edge research, but for building a warm, supportive community, and giving students experience in the art of intellectual give-and-take — a skill students value for success in every field.
“Engaging and engaged are defining characteristics of MIT's Burchard Scholars,” Resnick says, noting that many past winners have gone on to receive other distinguished honors, including Rhodes, Marshall, and Truman scholarships and fellowships.
Melissa Nobles, Kenan Sahin Dean of the School, will congratulate the new class of Burchard Scholars at a reception to be held in their honor in February 2018.
The 2018 Burchard Scholars are:
Vilhelm Andersen Woltz ’20
Major: Physics
Emma Bernstein ’20
Major: Computer Science and Molecular Biology
Emma Bingham ’19
Major: Physics
Minor: Political Science
Ali Daher ’19
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Riley Davis ’19
Major: Materials Science and Engineering, Global Studies and Languages
Megan Diehl ’20
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Neena Dugar ’19
Major: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Julia Ginder ’19
Major: Biological Engineering
Minor: Public Policy
Mehitabel Glenhaber ’19
Major: Comparative Media Studies
Erin Grela ’20
Major: Chemistry
Daniel Guberek ’19
Major: Physics
Karina Hinojosa ’20
Major: Earth, Atmosphere, and Planetary Science
Jenna Hong ’19
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Brice Huang ’19
Major: Mathematics
Anna Kazlauskas ’19
Major: Mathematical Economics
Minor: Computer Science
Lawson Kosulic ’19
Major: Physics
Ohyoon Kwon ’20
Major: Brain and Cognitive Science
Ivy Li ’20
Major: Physics
Minors: Ancient and Medieval Studies, Literature
James Li ’19
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Computer Science
Kevin Li ’19
Major: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Babatunde Ogunlade ’20
Major: Material Science and Engineering
Mira Partha ’19
Major: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Nolan Peard ’19
Majors: Physics, Music
Daniel Perry ’19
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Miloslawa Piszczek ’19
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Sarah Powazek ’20
Major: Political Science
Minor: Computer Science
Roshni Sahoo ’20
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Anna Sappington ’19
Major: Computer Science and Molecular Biology
Kathleen Schwind ’19
Major: Planning
Mahi Shafiullah ’19
Majors: Computer Science and Engineering, Mathematics
Farita Tasnim ’19
Major: Electrical Science and Engineering
Minor: Design
Adam Theriault-Shay ’19
Major: Mathematics
Ethan Vo ’19
Major: Physics
Rachel Wei ’20
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Michelle D. Xu ’20
Major: Physics
Joseph Zurier ’19
Major: Mathematics
Warm congratulations to all!
Suggested Links
About the Burchard Scholars Program
Former Buchard Scholars
Burchard Scholar Program | Seminar Topics and Special Events
Story prepared by MIT SHASS Communications
Editorial and Design Director: Emily Hiestand
Writers: Kathryn O'Neill, Emily Hiestand