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Sophia Bax-Wooten Named Schwarzman Scholar

by Angela George | December 08, 2022

Spelman Student Sophia Bax-Wooten Named Schwarzman Scholar Sophia Bax-Wooten, C’2023, has been named to the eighth class of Schwarzman Scholars, one of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowships which is awarded to only 100 – 200 applicants per year, worldwide.

Founded by American financier Stephen A. Schwarzman, the Scholars’ experience is anchored in a rigorous and immersive Master of Global Affairs degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Bax-Wooten and her cohort will “Develop connections with leaders from China and around the world in high-level lectures and our mentorship program, and they participate in internships and projects with local businesses and organizations,” according to program organizers.

A Dean's Scholar and member of Spelman's Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program, Bax-Wooten is a sociology major with a pre-law concentration and double minor in African Diaspora studies and comparative women’s studies. Social justice stands at the core of her work as an advocate and ally within intellectual, professional and personal spheres, she said.

"Holding diverse leadership positions on campus has set me on a trajectory of disruption -- disrupting traditions and trends of hate through DEI initiatives," said the Washington, D.C. native. Upon graduation, Bax-Wooten will use equity conscious frameworks to secure dignity for people within the corporate landscape.

Moving With Intention

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I am a person who moves with intention. My Schwarzman Scholars candidacy was no different. I understood this prestigious fellowship as a unique opportunity for international scholarship. Their core purpose of preparing Large Blue Quote Right global leaders espouses an appreciation for change that I recognize in myself. It was Spelman, the college and community, that taught me the value of choosing to change the world. I will carry this consciousness in the classroom and beyond.

Bax-Wooten applied for the Schwarzman program on the platform of "Loving Blackness" and said it was important that this framework be translated with nuance in centering Blackness. "Such nuance underscores themes which ground my emphasis on grace, empathy and peace, she added.

A Community of Excellence

"I thank Dr. Michelle Hite, associate professor of English, Honors Program director, international fellowships and scholarships director, for her mentorship. She helped me identify who I am as a change-maker. I thank my professors across campus for giving me the tools to articulate this identity with conviction, added Bax-Wooten. Lastly, a thank you to my fellow Spelmanites for giving me continuous reasons to love our Blackness."

Box-Wooten encourages students considering Schwarzman Scholars as their next step to apply and do so with full intention. "Be direct in your written and vocal storytelling. Your narrative should tell the committee who you are within personal, professional, and academic spheres. It is your primary job to prove your multidimensional self is set on a trajectory of change," she said.

Spelman Schwarzman Scholars

Naomi Aladekoba, C'2023, international studies major with a concentration in international development and double minor in Spanish and Asian studies, joins Box-Wooten as a 2023-2024 Schwarzman Scholar. This year, nearly 3,000 candidates applied from around the world and close to 400 candidates were interviewed, producing a class of approximately 150 Schwarzman Scholars to take part in this unparalleled program in August of 2023.

Previous scholars from Spelman include Chayla Cassandra Cherry, C’2022, and Tayler Ulmer who through a combination of coursework and cultural immersion, gained unrivaled exposure to China and a broad network of important relationships through unique internships, mentorship opportunities, high-profile speakers and opportunities to travel throughout the country. The scholars were also given access to career services support that will help prepare them to make the best of their time in Beijing and beyond.

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Scholar Spotlight

Sophia Bax-Wooten Named Schwarzman Scholar

December 2022

Moving With Intention

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Spelman Schwarzman Scholars

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Meet Our Scholars

Domestic Opportunities

Domestic opportunities are managed by DeKimberlen Neely, Ph.D. and Stacy Washington, M.A.

ARTHUR LIMAN PUBLIC INTEREST SUMMER FELLOWSHIP
The Liman Summer Fellowship gives juniors and seniors the opportunity to work at substantive summer internships in the field of public interest law/social justice.

ASTRONAUT SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarships are awarded to students seeking a STEM degree with intentions to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degrees. Sophomores and juniors who plan to conduct research during their junior and/or senior semesters are eligible to apply.

BARRY GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP
The Barry Goldwater Foundation awards scholarships to college students who are in their sophomore or junior term and intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

BEINECKE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Scholarships are awarded for the graduate education of young men and women of exceptional promise, to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of a graduate course of study in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

HARRY S. TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation supports the graduate education and professional development of outstanding young people committed to public service leadership. Applicants should demonstrate extensive record of campus and community service; a high probability of becoming a "change agent"; and strong academic record.

UDALL UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP
The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment.

International Opportunities

International opportunities are managed by Andrea Lewis, Ph.D. Learn more about International Studies Fellowships and Internships.

CHARLES B. RANGEL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
The Rangel Program is a U.S. State Department program administered by Howard University that seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers as diplomats in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. The program seeks individuals interested in helping to shape a freer, more secure and prosperous world through formulating, representing, and implementing U.S. foreign policy. The Program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need.

Spelman Application Deadline: Thursday, September 14, 2023

FULBRIGHT U.S. STUDENT PROGRAM
Chosen for their leadership potential, Fulbright fellows are given the opportunity to study, teach, or conduct research in other countries, and develop international competence and cross-cultural expertise.

Spelman Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 26, 2023

LUCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Luce Scholars Program is a nationally competitive fellowship program. It was launched by the Henry Luce Foundation in 1974 to enhance the understanding of Asia among potential leaders in American society. The program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for 15-18 Luce Scholars each year, and welcomes applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields who have had limited exposure to Asia.

Spelman Application Deadline: Monday, October 2, 2023

MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIPS
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree in the United Kingdom. Up to forty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study.

Spelman Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 12, 2023

RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS
The Rhodes Scholarships are the oldest and most celebrated international fellowship awards in the world. Rhodes Scholars are chosen not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements, but for their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for their potential for leadership in whatever domains their careers may lead. Each year 32 young students from the United States are selected.

Spelman Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 20, 2023

SCHWARZMAN FUTURE GLOBAL LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP
Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st Century. Whether in politics, business or science, the success of future leaders around the world will depend upon an understanding of China’s role in global trends. The program gives the world’s best and brightest students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and professional networks through a one-year Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing – one of China’s most prestigious universities.

Spelman Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 5, 2023

THOMAS R. PICKERING FOREIGN AFFAIRS FELLOWSHIP
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program is a program funded by the U.S. Department of State, administered by Howard University, that attracts and prepares outstanding young people for Foreign Service careers in the U.S. Department of State. It welcomes the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the State Department, women, and those with financial need. Based on the fundamental principle that diversity is a strength in our diplomatic efforts, the program values varied backgrounds, including ethnic, racial, social, and geographic diversity.

Spelman Application Deadline: Thursday, September 7, 2023

Other Prestigious Opportunities

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Graduate Feeder Program
The UGA Graduate Feeder program provides a supportive transition for undergraduate students as they learn about applying to graduate school and as they begin to assume the role of a graduate student at UGA.
UGA Graduate Feeder Program Details
UGA Graduate Feeder Program Application Instructions (PDF)
UGA Graduate Feeder Program Application (DOC)

Gateway Graduate School Bridge Program
The Gateway to Graduate School Bridge Program allows incoming graduate students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to begin their graduate education at the University of Georgia in the summer semester rather than the fall.
UGA Gateway Graduate School Bridge Program Details

Contact Us

Office of Undergraduate Studies
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Atlanta, GA 30314
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PFS Forms

Cover Sheet & Checklist (PDF)
Faculty Mentor Form (PDF)