Center celebrates 11 graduates

Eleven McConnell Scholars recently graduated from the University of Louisville, part of the record 3,200-plus students who graduated May 11. The McConnell Center recognized the 11 scholars with a dinner ceremony for family and friends April 14 at Cardinal Stadium’s PNC Club.

“What memories I have of each of you,” McConnell Center Director Gary Gregg told the graduates. “Racing through my mind right now are images of rain-soaked mountains and fascinating seminars, and long walks and van rides, of much-appreciated hugs and much-needed tears, of smiles and jokes down the hall, of watching you from the back in the room when you led, acted, gave speeches, and introduced speakers, and sharing in your news—good and difficult, too.”

The Center extends its congratulations to the following students on their undergraduate achievements and wishes them well as they pursue new endeavors such as graduate studies in acting, law and medicine; teaching opportunities; and foreign travel.

• Sidney Cobb, of Frankfort, Ky., earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. She will travel in England and Spain before pursuing law school.
• Easton Depp, of Fort Thomas, Ky., earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics. He will attend the University of Notre Dame Law School in the fall.
• Isaac Feinn, of Louisville, Ky., earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. He will attend UofL’s School of Dentistry.
• Nicole Fielder, of Nicholasville, Ky., earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She will join U.S. Representative John Yarmuth’s Washington, DC, office as Staff Assistant.
• Erica Gaither, of Princeton, Ky., earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She will join the Teach for America Corps in New York and pursue a graduate degree in education.
• Claire Gothard, of Louisville, Ky., earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science. She will spend the next year in Germany as part of the U.S. State Department’s Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Young Professionals Program.
• Bridget Kim, of Morehead, Ky., earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She received a full-tuition scholarship and will pursue a master’s degree in fine arts at Case Western Reserve University.
• Miranda Mason, of Corinth, Ky., earned a bachelor’s degree with an individualized major in medicine and society. She will attend UofL’s School of Medicine
• Natasha Mundkur, of Louisville, Ky., earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and marketing. She earned the university’s first Fulbright Scholarship to India and will teach English through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program.
• Georgiana Sook, of Owensboro, Ky., earned a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy. She will participate in a church plant in Birmingham, Ala., while continuing her work with a Louisville-based marketing and technology agency.
• Colton Stinger, of Elizabethtown, Ky., earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He will attend UofL’s School of Medicine. 

During the course of four years, these 11 Scholars traveled to the People’s Republic of China, took part in behind-the-scenes tours of Washington, DC, and participated in annual leadership retreats around the Commonwealth. Students also had the opportunity to study British literature and politics in the United Kingdom and consider American political thought at an extended retreat in Mecosta, Mich.

Students met with several national political leaders during their tenure as part of the Center's Distinguished Speaker Series. The graduates met U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer; U.S. Senators Tim Scott, Joni Ernst and Tim Kaine; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch; CIA Director Gina Haspel and Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer.

The “full-ride-plus” McConnell Scholarship provides up to full in-state tuition to the University of Louisville for four years and is considered among the university’s most valuable and competitive scholarships.