The college is forwarding four nominees for Watson
Fellowships for final interviews with the executive director of the Watson
Foundation starting on Nov. 13.
They are:
— Jeff Fairfield,
psychology, Arundel, Maine
— “Running in their Footsteps: A Study of Distance Running
Communities”
Countries: Finland,
Kenya, New
Zealand, Scotland,
and Greece
–Brian Kern, biology, Voorheesville,
N.Y. — “Life from Death: The Marine
Impacts of Submerged Wrecks”
Countries: Bermuda,
Bahamas, Micronesia,
Scotland
— Nori Lupfer, visual arts, West
Lebanon, N.H. — “Circuses
and Stunts: Photography of Entertainment in Motion”
Countries: Brazil,
Switzerland, France,
Slovenia, Italy,
Holland, Germany,
Denmark, Czech
Republic, Russia
— Eric Meissner, biology and political science, Troy,
N.Y. — “The Relationship between
Culture and 'Emergency' Medicine”
Countries: Honduras,
Nicaragua, Netherlands,
England
Each applicant is required to submit a three-page
application form, a five-page project proposal, and a five page personal statement,
plus supporting appendices, and two letters of recommendation.
Nineteen students submitted preliminary proposals to the
campus Watson committee last June, and ten submitted final proposals in
September (of whom seven were interviewed). The campus Watson Committee
consisted of Profs. Ann Anderson, Joyce Madancy, Byron Nichols, Ed Pavlic and
former Watson Fellow Eugene Kokot '70.
Fifty top liberal arts colleges in the country are invited
each year to participate in the Watson Fellowship competition. Each college
nominates a maximum of four students each, for a total of 200. The Fellowship
program selects about 60 Watson Fellows each year. Any or all of Union's
nominees could be winners. Two years ago, Union had two
winners. Last year, Union had none.
Each Watson winner receives a $22,000 stipend for the year
to cover expenses; an additional stipend is added if the winner is married and will
be traveling with spouse. In addition, the Watson Foundation will pay any
undergraduate loans due from a Watson fellow during the year of his/her
fellowship.
Selections are announced in March.