Poli Sci Major Named Marshall Scholar
This highly competitive scholarship, one of the most prestigious awards a graduating American undergraduate can receive, will take Koproske to the University of Oxford next fall to earn a master of philosophy in political theory.
Koproske, 22, who comes from Fenton, Mo., joins four other USC students who have won the honor in recent years: Jacob Chacko (2000), Paul Miller (2002), David Chacko (2004) and Nilay Vora (2004).
“I received ‘the call’ from an official at the British Consulate the night after my interview,” Koproske said. “Her voice lacked any emotion either way, so my immediate reaction was ‘OK, you probably didn’t get it.’
After his disbelief at the news and her assurance that he indeed was selected, the call ended abruptly. “Then came the screaming and dancing,” he said.
The Marshall Scholarships were established by the British government in 1953 as thanks for assistance received after World War II under the Marshall Plan. At an estimated value of $60,000, the scholarships provide two fully-funded years of study, with a possible third year extension, at any university in the United Kingdom.
At least 40 Marshall Scholarships are awarded each year to exceptional young Americans studying a range of subjects.
Koproske’s research interests are secularism and the relationship between religion, science and political thought. While at USC, he co-founded a nonprofit called the BrainTrust Project that will launch in January to better connect academic experts with policymakers and the public to improve political discourse.
He is also a classically trained percussionist and pianist who currently holds the drumset chair in the USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra as well as playing in several smaller jazz groups and a hip-hop/R&B band around Los Angeles.
“My drums and keyboard will make the trip with me to Oxford,” Koproske said.
The Trojans who recommended him were President Steven B. Sample; Craig Stanford, anthropology and biological sciences; Alison Dundes Renteln, political science; and Phillip Placenti, USC Thornton School of Music.
Tony Tambascia, director of academic recognition programs at USC, urges any student or faculty member wanting to recommend a student for Marshall, Rhodes, Fulbright or other scholarships and grants to contact his office for information. Most deadlines are in September.
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The Chronicle of Higher Education mentioned USC’s $6 billion fundraising campaign. The story noted that USC had already raised $1 billion in a “quiet phase,” including the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to the USC Dornsife College.
The Guardian (U.K.) highlighted two major gifts to USC in a list of the 10 biggest philanthropic benefactors in America. The list included the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to the USC Dornsife College, and the $110 million gift from USC Trustee and USC Viterbi School alumnus John Mork and wife Julie to create the USC Mork Family Scholars Program.
The New York Times featured the USC U.S.-China Institute documentary “Assignment: China — The Week that Changed the World.” The documentary, part of a series, examines media coverage of the 1972 Nixon trip that reshaped U.S.-China relations after a quarter century of isolation and hostility. “People look back now and take it for granted that the outcome was preordained,” said the institute’s Mike Chinoy, who produced the documentary. Voice of America also featured the story.
Los Angeles Times featured the Oscar Senti-meter, a tool developed by the USC Annenberg School, Los Angeles Times and IBM that analyzes thousands of tweets about the Academy Awards nominees. The story noted that Mexican actor Demian Bechir received an enormous boost on Twitter the day of the nominations, with a total of 6,893 tweets mentioning him, a 47-fold increase from the day before. The story noted the tool uses language-recognition technology developed in collaboration with USC Viterbi School’s Signal Analysis and Interpretation Lab.
The Times of India (India) featured a three-day medical emergency training workshop organized in association with USC. At the workshop, held at GCS Medical College in India, 50 doctors and more than 100 paramedics learned how to improve emergency support systems. William Mallon of the Keck School of USC said that discussion topics included the use of portable ultrasonic devices to scan patients. “The ultrasound applications help physicians make accurate and timely decisions,” he noted. Daily News & Analysis (India) also featured the workshop.
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