UChicago and Northwestern students honored with the coveted Marshall Scholarship highlight how focused preparation, service, and vision lead to life-changing graduate studies in the United Kingdom. Their paths show you what strong applicants do over several years, not months.
UChicago And Northwestern Students Honored With The Marshall Scholarship
The latest cohort of Marshall Scholarship recipients includes two UChicago students and one Northwestern student, all selected for their academic excellence, leadership, and public service. The British government named them among 43 Marshall Scholars from across the United States.
The Marshall Scholarship offers fully funded graduate studies at universities across the United Kingdom in almost any discipline. Since its creation in 1953 in honor of George C. Marshall and the postwar Marshall Plan, the program has supported more than 2,300 scholars and strengthened ties between the United States and the UK.
Each of these scholarship recipients from UChicago and Northwestern uses the award to pursue research and policy work with clear impact, from space technology to Pacific diplomacy to criminal justice reform. Their stories give you a concrete model for planning your own application.
Logan Hanssler: Space Technology And Academic Excellence
UChicago senior Logan Hanssler, from Buffalo Grove, studies molecular engineering and astrophysics. His path to the Marshall Scholarship started early, during his first year, when he co-founded a student project to build a laser communication satellite.
Through this project, he focused on space-to-ground laser communication, an approach to transmit data from spacecraft to Earth more efficiently than traditional radio frequency systems. The work exposed gaps in current technology and helped him design a research plan that matched the strengths of UK universities.
As a Marshall Scholar, Hanssler will pursue a master’s degree in optics and photonics at Imperial College London, then a physics master’s at Durham University, working with professors involved in telescope and laser communication technologies. His long-term goal is a doctorate in aerospace engineering and a research role at NASA, while strengthening US–UK collaboration in space science.
Hanssler’s experience shows how academic excellence linked to concrete technical projects can position you for such a prestigious award. The key is a clear research trajectory, not scattered activities.
Elijah Jenkins: Honored For Pacific Diplomacy And Law
The second UChicago student honored with a Marshall Scholarship is Elijah Jenkins from Chandler, Arizona. He studies law, letters, and society along with race and diaspora, and is believed to be the first CHamoru Marshall Scholar, representing the Indigenous people of Guam and neighboring islands.
Jenkins connects his academic work with practical experience in diplomacy and Pacific politics. He has engaged in research and internships, including work with the US State Department, on questions of law, sovereignty, and security in the Pacific region. At a time when the US, the UK, and other countries increase their engagement in the Pacific, his background gives him a strong policy perspective.
As a Marshall Scholarship recipient, Jenkins plans to pursue a master’s degree in global and imperial history at Oxford University, followed by development studies at Cambridge University. These programs allow him to combine historical analysis with policy design and development practice.
His story highlights how students honored by the Marshall Scholarship often bridge personal heritage and international opportunities. He uses the award to bring CHamoru perspectives into global policy debates, which strengthens the broader mission of the scholarship.
Ethan Barnes: Northwestern Student Honored For Criminal Justice Reform
Northwestern senior Ethan Barnes, from Washington, D.C., brings a different but equally focused profile. A political science major, he has spent years working on criminal justice issues such as police oversight and probation and parole reform.
His collaboration with Illinois lawmakers contributed to a 2023 law that reformed mandatory supervised release. The reform aims to reduce re-incarceration caused by technical violations of parole conditions, rather than new crimes. This shows how undergraduate work can reach the level of real policy change.
Barnes, already recognized as a Truman Scholar, intends to use his Marshall Scholarship for graduate studies in law and criminology at a UK university. By comparing British and American criminal justice systems, he wants to strengthen his approach as a policy advocate. His long-term goal is to become a federal prosecutor focused on reform and community safety.
Northwestern students honored in this way demonstrate how consistent engagement with public service and policy yields strong applications for international opportunities such as the Marshall Scholarship.
What The Marshall Scholarship Offers UChicago And Northwestern Students
The Marshall Scholarship gives UChicago and Northwestern students a rare combination of funding, flexibility, and international experience. For many, it shapes their entire early career.
Each scholarship recipient receives full financial support for graduate studies in the UK, including tuition, living expenses, research travel, and support for cultural activities. Scholars choose from leading universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, London School of Economics, and many others across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The award emphasizes academic excellence, but also leadership and the potential to strengthen US–UK ties. This means your academic plan should show both depth in your field and awareness of how your work affects communities in both countries.
Key Features Of The Marshall Scholarship Experience
To understand why students from UChicago and Northwestern value the Marshall Scholarship, look at its core features and how they connect to career outcomes.
- Fully funded graduate education in almost any discipline, from engineering and physics to history, law, and development studies.
- Choice of UK universities that match your academic goals, not a single fixed institution.
- Two-year or sometimes one-year programs, giving you time to build networks, conduct research, and gain international perspective.
- Alumni network of scholars working in government, academia, industry, and nonprofits across the world.
- Cultural immersion through everyday life in the UK, plus access to lectures, conferences, and public events.
These features help explain why the Marshall Scholarship is considered a prestigious award on the level of Rhodes and other top international fellowships.
How UChicago And Northwestern Students Prepare For The Marshall Scholarship
The three scholars from UChicago and Northwestern show how preparation starts long before the application year. They did not wait until senior year to think about international scholarships.
Across their stories, several patterns appear. Each identified a strong interest early, developed it through projects and internships, then linked that interest to specific graduate studies plans in the UK.
If you want to follow a similar path, use the lessons from these Marshall Scholars.
First, they treated their passion as a long-term project. Hanssler built and refined space communication projects, Jenkins connected Pacific heritage and diplomacy, and Barnes worked directly on justice reform and legislation.
Second, they worked with mentors. Faculty advisers and fellowship offices at UChicago and Northwestern guided them in course choices, research opportunities, and application strategy. You gain an edge when you build these relationships early.
Third, they built outward-facing impact. Instead of limiting their work to classrooms, they took on roles in policy, public service, and technical projects with real-world stakes. Selection committees look for this kind of proof that you use your education to serve others.
Using The Marshall Scholarship As A Model For Other International Opportunities
You do not need to win a Marshall Scholarship to benefit from the same preparation. The mindset used by UChicago and Northwestern students also applies to many other international opportunities and research awards.
Global bursaries, grants, and exchange programs share similar selection criteria. They want clear goals, intellectual depth, and evidence of impact. If you understand this, you improve your chances across multiple programs, not only the Marshall.
Exploring Other Scholarships And Research Bursaries
For example, you can explore worldwide research bursaries that support graduate research and international study. These programs often focus on specific fields or regions but reward the same traits shown by the Marshall scholars.
A helpful starting point is this guide on worldwide research bursaries, which explains how such funding works and what selection committees expect. Understanding these patterns prepares you to position your academic record more effectively.
Another useful resource covers broader international academic awards and how to apply, with practical steps on researching programs, contacting mentors, and managing timelines. The same disciplined approach used by Marshall Scholarship recipients will help you with these awards as well.
Practical Steps If You Aim For A Marshall Scholarship
If you study at UChicago, Northwestern, or any other institution and aim for something like the Marshall Scholarship, you need a concrete plan. Broad ambition is not enough.
Start by defining a question you want to study, not a scholarship you want to win. Then align your coursework, research, and service with that question over several years. This is the pattern you see in all three honorees.
Action Plan Inspired By UChicago And Northwestern Scholars
Use the approach of these scholarship recipients as a checklist for your own journey.
- Define one or two core interests early and test them through classes and small projects.
- Seek research or policy work tied to those interests, even in entry-level roles.
- Connect with faculty mentors who understand your field and your long-term goals.
- Look for ways to serve a broader community through your expertise, not only build your resume.
- Study the structure of programs like the Marshall Scholarship and related awards so you understand what they reward.
If you build this path step by step, you place yourself among the kind of students honored for academic excellence and ready for top international opportunities.