糖心Vlog

Awarded for the first time in 2007, the Meredith Legacy Scholarship 鈥� the College鈥檚 first and only full, four-year merit scholarship 鈥� continues to attract strong, bright women to Meredith.

Proof of Excellence

Take Sarah Beth Phelps, 鈥�11, for example. Sarah was one of the first women to receive the scholarship in 2007. After graduating from Meredith, she earned a Master of Science in public health from UNC-Chapel Hill and now lives in Armenia.

Then there鈥檚 Zeenat Razvi, 鈥�13, who鈥檚 pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at Duke University. Earlier this year Zeenat was awarded a 2014 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship 鈥� one of the country鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious graduate fellowships. Past recipients include numerous Nobel Prize winners, Google founder Sergey Brin, and Freakonomics co-author Steven Levitt 鈥� strong company to keep!

Amy Hruby, 鈥�13, earned a full scholarship to DePaul University, where she is working toward a Ph.D. in philosophy. Amy continued her collaboration with Meredith Assistant Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies Steven Benko to co-author a chapter for the forthcoming Religion and Transhumanism: The Unknown Future of Human Enhancement 鈥� an impressive achievement for a first-year graduate student.

The most recent Legacy Scholarship alumna, Michelle Maiden, 鈥�14, double majored in mathematics and chemistry at Meredith. Her work as an undergraduate researcher in both fields led to numerous awards, including a Women in Science mentorship with GlaxoSmithKline. What鈥檚 next for Michelle? A Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Colorado Boulder 鈥� one of the five Ph.D. programs she was accepted to across the U.S.

A Labor of Love

The Meredith Legacy Scholarship was created by those who know best the power of a Meredith education 鈥� alumnae. Ione Kemp Knight, 鈥�43, and Elizabeth Triplett Beam, 鈥�72, began the campaign to secure Meredith鈥檚 academic legacy through the creation of a prestigious scholarship.

According to Michelle Rich Goode, 鈥�73, establishing the scholarship has allowed the College to compete more fully with other academic institutions that offer full merit scholarships, while attracting an even deeper pool of high-achieving students.

鈥淭he Legacy Scholars on campus add a component of academic rigor in the classroom that has been a signature of Meredith since the beginning,鈥� she said.

Alumnae support of the Legacy Scholars goes beyond the scholarship funds. 鈥淲e assist as mentors, with internships, and by providing quality of life enrichment opportunities,鈥� said Goode. 鈥淲e attend the student鈥檚 presentations, performances, lectures, and athletic events.鈥�

The Meredith Legacy Scholarship strengthens more than just the students who are awarded the scholarship. Yes, it鈥檚 true that their presence enriches the classroom experience, the student body, and influences future students. But alumnae have discovered unexpected benefits of establishing the scholarship.

鈥淸The scholarship] has made me feel my degree, though over 40 years old, is more prestigious, given the competition for the scholarship鈥� said Goode. 鈥淚t makes me proud to give back in a way that truly makes the College stronger.鈥�