35 exceptional MIT students named Burchard Scholars for 2015
Students selected as Burchard scholars are some of MIT's liveliest undergraduates. They are unafraid to wrestle with new ideas.
December 17, 2014 — The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences is pleased to name 35 exceptional MIT undergraduates as Burchard Scholars for 2015. 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.”
Ideas and conversation at 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: how American social policies really work; the politics of aid to Haitian trauma survivors; what philosophy tells us about how to make big decisions; 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, in community
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.
Deborah K. Fitzgerald, 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 2015.
The 2015 Burchard Scholars are:
Evan "Charlie" Andrews-Jubelt '17
Mechanical Engineering; Physics
Vincent Anioke '17
Computer Science and Engineering
minor, Creative Writing
Bhaskaran Balaji '16
Mathematics; Physics
minor, Music
Juan Bautista Hobin '17
Mathematics
minor, Economics
Itamar Belson '16
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Comparative Media Studies
Leyatt Betre '16
Physics; Political Science
Emma Chaloux-Pinette '16
Biology
Marina Crowe '16
Political Science
minor, Management Science
Casey Crownhart '17
Chemical Engineering; Literature
Skylar Goldman '16
Chemical Engineering; Comparative Media Studies
Val Healy '16
Comparative Media Studies
minor, Women's and Gender Studies
Shahrin Islam '16
Chemical Engineering
Linda Jiang '16
Biology; Mathematics
minor, Applied International Studies
Joseff Kolman '17
Physics; Political Science
Hane Lee '17
Electrical Science and Engineering
Moriel Levy '17
Chemical Engineering
Julia Longmate '16
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Githui Maina '16
Chemical Engineering
minor, History
Veronica Montgomery '16
Biological Engineering
minor, Spanish; Materials Science and Engineering
Jesus Moreno '16
Materials Science and Engineering
minor, Political Science; Economics
Kristen Murray '16
Aeronautics and Astronautics
minor, Political Science
Chimdimma Okwara '16
Materials Science and Engineering
Abigail Ostriker '16
Mathematics
minor, Energy Studies; Economics
Yihui Quek '16
Physics; Mathematics
minor, Linguistics
Rafa Rahman '16
Biological Engineering
minor, Public Policy
Vaishnavi Rao '17
Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Daniel Richman '17
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Taylor Rose '16
Management Science; Political Science
Christopher Sanfilippo '17
Physics; Mathematics
Abra Shen '16
Brain and Cognitive Sciences
minor, Theater Arts; Chemistry
Benjamin Tidor '16
Computer Science and Engineering
Dalia Walzer '17
Biology
Shenghao Wang '16
Mathematics
minor, Asian and Asian Diaspora Studies
Ryan Webb '16
Aerospace Engineering
Lynn Yu '17
Mechanical Engineering; Urban Planning
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
Communications Assistant: Daniel Pritchard