Leading By Example
Ben Bankston ’25 is finding opportunities at W&L to challenge himself in and out of the classroom.
Johnson Scholarship Archive (93 Stories)
Meet Brad Singer ’24
A Washington Term class with a real-world focus prepared Singer for post-graduate work in the federal government.
W&L’s Katie Yurechko Among 2024 Class of Marshall Scholars
Yurechko ’24 is the university’s first Marshall Scholar.
W&L’s Avalon Pernell ’23 Awarded Fulbright to Germany
Pernell has been awarded a Young Professional Journalist Program Award to conduct research and gain career experience in Germany.
Maximizing Her Network
Avalon Pernell ’23 credits the mentorship she received on campus as she launches her career in business journalism.
W&L’s Tahri Phillips Among 2023 Class of Rhodes Scholars
Phillips '23 is the university’s 18th Rhodes Scholar.
W&L’s Mansi Tripathi ’22 Awarded Fulbright to Colombia
Tripathi will teach English to students in Colombia for 10 months.
The Flow of Influence
After receiving a great deal of support from upperclassmen at Washington and Lee University, Hannah Puckett ’23 pays it forward by dedicating her time to mentoring and counseling first-year students.
‘The Honor of Learning’
Lauren Hoaglund '22 has parlayed her passion for medieval and Renaissance history, literature, classics and theater into a busy but rewarding four years at W&L.
‘One More Song’
Paige Anderson '22 is spending the summer recording an album of classical violin music in memory of her grandmother.
‘A Serendipitous Experience’
Everything has fallen into place at W&L for Alankrit Shatadal '21, who complemented her academic experience with research, peer counseling and membership in University Singers.
W&L’s Muensterman Awarded Prestigious Beinecke Scholarship
Kathryn Muensterman ’22 has won a $34,000 Beinecke Scholarship to help fund her graduate studies.
A Place That Checked All the Boxes
Rafay Hassan '22 was looking for a liberal arts university that would give him individualized attention and put his critical thinking skills to the test. He found that and more at W&L.
W&L’s Ricks Receives Davis Projects for Peace Grant
James Ricks ’21 plans to work this summer with the Oda Foundation in Nepal.
W&L Presents Senior Recital Featuring Coletta Fuller ’21
On April 3 at 8 p.m., Fuller will showcase her insight and creativity in a series of original compositions performed by W&L student performers.
W&L Presents Senior Recital Featuring Hyun Song ’21
Song will perform selections by composers J. S. Bach, Antonín Leopold Dvořák, Dmitri Shostakovich and James Stephenson for her senior cello recital on April 2 at 8 p.m.
Washington and Lee’s Troy Larsen ’22 Awarded Goldwater Scholarship
Each scholar is awarded $7,500 to support undergraduate research in their junior or senior year.
‘A Sense of Meaning’
At W&L, Lorena Terroba Urruchua ’21 found her purpose — helping people with disabilities — at the intersection of psychology, Romance languages and poverty studies.
No Limits
At W&L, Mary North Jones has been able to pursue interests in both European history and medicine as she builds a foundation for her career.
An Intersection of Interests
At W&L, Katherine Ingram '20 found a research interest—and a future profession—where environmental studies meets economics.
The Human Side of Health Care
A class in Denmark, an internship in India and lots of eye-opening experiences in the Lexington community have encouraged Amanda Dorsey '21 to advocate for inclusion in the public health field.
The Value of Community
Lainey Johnson '16 values connections with a variety of people from different backgrounds, which is something she learned to prize at W&L.
‘No Small Task’
Luke Basham '20 parlays a passion for politics into the challenging role of Democratic Party analyst for Mock Con 2020.
W&L Journalism Student Wins Hearst Award
Hannah Denham ’20 won first place in a prestigious feature writing competition for a piece she wrote during an internship at The Washington Post.
W&L’s Rossella Gabriele Among 2020 Class of Rhodes Scholars
Gabriele, a 2019 graduate, is the university’s 17th Rhodes Scholar.
‘Finding My Place at W&L’
Senior Laura Calhoun looks back at her W&L experience and celebrates the community she's built here.
The Future is Bioplastics
Julianna Keeling ’19 applied her passion for the environment to build a company focused on biodegradable consumer products.
London Calling
For students like Lourdes Arana '21, the London Internship Program combines course work, internships and alumni support to create an unforgettable educational experience.
Racing Through Summer
Ben Peeples '21 is enjoying a chemistry internship at Brown University while training for the World Canoeing Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Lunch with a Side of Love
Through coursework and connections, Hannah Archer '20 helped to create a school food service program to ensure that local children have enough to eat during the summer.
‘Intellectual Curiosity Without Boundaries’
James Ricks '21 is spending the summer working for The Oda Foundation in Nepal, where he is researching tobacco use and working with children to create a mural that represents health in their town.
Washington and Lee’s Laura Bruce ’20 Awarded Goldwater Scholarship
Each scholar is awarded $7,500 to support undergraduate research in their junior or senior year.
Laurie Lee ’22 Awarded William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship
The scholarship was created to encourage more American students to study in the Middle East.
W&L’s Kathryn McEvoy ’19 Earns Fulbright Award
Washington and Lee University senior Kathryn McEvoy ’19 has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Spain for summer 2019.
W&L’s Katherine Dau ’19 Awarded Fulbright
Dau will live and work in Vienna for nine months.
At the Forefront of Economics
Margaret Kallus ’19 will be the second W&L alumna to join a team of economists at the Harvard University research institute, Opportunity Insights.
Passion Points to the Perfect Profession
Hannah Denham '20 has combined business journalism with women and gender studies at W&L to create a liberal arts education that suits her interests and ambition.
‘Entranced by Science’
Deepthi Thumuluri '20 won a Virginia Academy of Sciences grant to continue her research into the relationship between diet-induced obesity, exercise and the gut microbiome.
‘My Time in Nicoya’
Daniel Rhoades '19 spent the summer immersed in the language and culture of Costa Rica.
Nothing like a Password: Trial and Resilience in the American Asylum System
Anne Rodgers '20 completed a 2018 summer internship with Asylee Women Enterprise (AWE) through the Shepherd Program. These are her reflections.
Studying Medicine in Pakistan
A grant from the Endeavor Foundation allowed Midha Ahmad '21 and Sawera Khan '21 to spend the summer in Pakistan, where they compared alternative medicine to traditional treatment.
Scaling the Entrepreneurship Summit
Jesse Evans '20 spent his summer ensuring that this year's summit, which took place Sept. 21-22, would be a success.
Summer in Kyrgyzstan
The Critical Language Scholarship Program has allowed Riley Ries '19 to strengthen his Russian and learn more about politics and culture in Kyrgyzstan.
Green Solutions for a Modern World
Attending the Princeton Environmental Ideathon was a natural progression for Julianna Keeling '19, who started a sustainable packaging company when she was still in high school.
Loughery ’18 Awarded ORISE Research Fellowship
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) research fellowship will allow her to conduct research at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Chemical Defense.
The Value of Wandering
More than any other experience at W&L, the Outing Club has taught Bowen Spottswood '18 about living life joyfully.
Ready for the Next Adventure
As she prepares to work for the Equality of Opportunity Project, Amanda Wahlers '18 is grateful for the education, opportunities and research experience she has had in Lexington.
Shely Awarded Fulbright Grant to Colombia
Jared Shely '18 will use the grant to continue his work teaching English to students in Latin America.
‘A Stronger Sense of Self’
At this small-town university, Nora Devlin '19 has been exposed to viewpoints from all over the globe.
An Education in Place
Kat Oakley '19 has spent a lot of time contemplating the idea of "place" - both in Lexington and across the world.
Building Your Own Dream Job
Graham Novak '19 may only be a junior at W&L, but he has already lined up a job — at his own company.
Chances Behind the Microphone
Broadcast journalism opportunities have been plentiful at W&L for Ford Carson '18, but the highlight of his college career has been founding a satirical publication, The Radish.
Healthcare and Community in Ecuador
Jackson Roberts '19 had the opportunity to intern in Quito, Ecuador, exploring local customs, becoming part of the community, and learning the ins and outs of healthcare.
Falling for Filmmaking
Working for the documentary filmmaking company Ark Media allowed Claire Hoffert '18 to exercise her research muscles and learn new skills.
‘Grateful Every Step of the Way’
Over 1,200 miles of biking and hiking trails led Ralston Hartness '18 from Spain to Ireland, discovering the meaning of pilgrimage along the way.
Adventures in the Alaskan Wilderness
As a summer counselor with the nonprofit Camp Fire Alaska, Chase Wonderlic '18 got in touch with his inner child and his adventurous spirit.
‘The Quality of the People’
Swimmer, computer coder, and Speaking Tradition advocate Will McMurtry '18 chose W&L over nine other schools, in large part because of its community.
Going With the Flow
Will Schirmer ’20 investigates the fluid dynamics of periodic water surges.
‘Perspectives’ on Leadership: Elena Diller ’17 & Caroline Todd ’17
Elena Diller '17 and Caroline Todd '17 saw a need for more perspective in academics — so they got to work.
Studying Health Here and Abroad: Jake Roberts ’17
Jake Roberts' study abroad trip started with an earthquake, and ended with him finding a passion for public health.
Consulting a Career: Stephen Mitchell ’17
Stephen Mitchell '17 credits students, alumni, and W&L academics for helping him to find the right career path.
Leadership Through Experience: Amirah S. Ndam Njoya ’17
Amirah S. Ndam Njoya ‘17 believes leadership, travelling, service, and scholarship are all vital parts of the W&L experience.
Taking Care of (Music) Business: Austin Frank ’17
What can you do in four years at W&L? How about manage a radio show, start a service organization, found a club, or publish an EP? Austin Frank ’17 has done them all.
Design, Build, Fly: Alexander Rurka ’17
Alexander Rurka '17 knows the ups-and-downs (and loop-de-loops) of flying and competing in an international plane building competition
Smiles for Miles
Brett Becker '18 and the W&L Pre-Dental Club teamed up with Rockbridge Area Health Center to distribute dental supplies to more than 700 local children.
Corey Guen ’17: At Home in a ‘Stellar Community’
Guen splits his time between hiking the mountains of Rockbridge and traveling the world.
A genuine General: Jordan LaPointe ‘17
LaPointe, who says his personal motto is "being genuine goes a long way," is a world traveler, professional debater, and Johnson Scholar.
Thriving at Home and Abroad: Karishma Patel ’18
Karishma Patel '18 loves finding the intersections of technology and business - while studying abroad in Madrid.
Five W&L Alumni Win National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowships
For the 2017 competition, NSF received over 13,000 applications and made 2,000 award offers.
W&L to Host Reception Honoring Rhodes Scholar Paqui Toscano
Washington and Lee will host a reception celebrating Paqui Toscano's selection as a Rhodes Scholar on Friday, March 17, from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. in the Commons Living Room.
Meet the Johnsons: Shlomo Honig ’18
Meet Shlomo Honig ‘18, whose day consists of analyzing rocks, protecting the environment, and ultimate frisbee
Meet the Johnsons: Harry Lustig ’17
Meet Harry Lustig ‘17, a scholar-explorer who’s hiked everywhere from the Blue Ridge to Alaska.
Shaping Traditions: Alex Meilech ’18
Alex Meilech '18 has experienced tradition - from Lexington, Virginia to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Meet the Johnsons: Ryder Babik ’19
Meet Ryder Babik '19, a student who enjoys college as much as he enjoys helping others apply to college.
Meet the Johnsons: Graham Novak ’19
Meet Graham Novak '19, an aspiring - and already accomplished - entrepreneur
Meet the Johnsons: Harrison Westgarth
Meet Harrison Westgarth '17, a pre-med varsity athlete with a passion for teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages.
Meet the Johnsons: Stephanie Chung ’18
Meet Stephanie Chung '18, an anthropology major with a passion for women's health advocacy.
Meet the Johnsons
Meet some of Washington and Lee University's talented crop of Johnson Scholars.
The Intersection of Art and Science: Lauren Sturdy ’11
Finding answers in the space where science and art intersect.
Meet the Johnsons: Andy Cuthbert ’18
Meet Andy Cuthbert '18, a pre-med neuroscience major with a serious love of the outdoors.
W&L’s Pasquale Toscano Among 2017 Class of Rhodes Scholars
Pasquale “Paqui” Toscano, a classics and English double major, is Washington and Lee’s 16th Rhodes Scholar. The Rhodes Trust announced Sunday that Toscano, 22, of Kettering, Ohio, was one of 32 scholars chosen this year. The scholarships, valued at between $50,000 to $200,000, fully fund two to four years of study at the University of Oxford in England.
One Fish, Two Fish
Above or below the water, Sasha Doss '13 studies and connects with fish and their environment.
Interns at Work: Gray Rixey ’18
Gray Rixey '18 spent part of his summer interning for a member of the British Parliament as part of the London Internship Program. He had no idea it would happen during one of the most tumultuous periods in British history.
Around the World with Jordan LaPointe ’17
Meet Jordan LaPointe '17, an East Asian Languages and Literatures major with a sense of adventure. A lifelong dream comes true in Japan.
Philosophy of Leadership: Paqui Toscano ’17
ODK National Leader of the Year Paqui Toscano talks about his approach to leadership.
Changing Perspectives: Ram Raval ’18
Ram Raval '18 interns for the Cooper's Ferry Partnership.
Pasquale Toscano Awarded Beinecke Scholarship for Graduate Study
Pasquale S. Toscano, of Kettering, Ohio, an English and classics double major at Washington and Lee University, has been awarded a Beinecke Scholarship for graduate study.
Matt Simpson’s Road to Rio
When Matt Simpson '12 rang in the new year of 2016, he knew it was going to be one that would change his life.
My W&L: Paqui Toscano ’16
"I have come to love W&L for . . . the people I have met here and the sense of community we have fostered together."
Changing Perspectives: Mason Grist ’18
Shepherd Intern Mason Grist '18 worked for the Guilford County Public Defender's Office
Mitchell ’17 Wins Phi Beta Kappa’s Goehring Award
At its March 19 convocation, the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Washington and Lee University gave Stephen C. Mitchell Jr. '17 the Phi Beta Kappa J. Brown Goehring Sophomore Award.
Johnson Scholarship Program's Impact Significant at W&L
When Washington and Lee University announced that most of the $100 million gift it received in June 2007 would establish a new scholarship program, Bill Hartog, W&L's long-time dean of admissions and financial aid, knew things were going to change. He had no idea just how much. In September, W&L welcomed its fourth, and largest, […]
First Johnson Scholars Arrive at Washington and Lee
Aug. 30, 2008, the first 41 Johnson Scholars will arrive for orientation at Washington and Lee University. The Johnson Scholarship Program was established through a $100 million donation to the university in 2007. It is highly competitive and recognizes students with outstanding academic qualifications and the promise for leadership in their chosen careers and future endeavors. Scholarships are valued at between $150,000 to $200,000 over a four-year period.
