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A Virginia Tech Class of 1954 University Honors Scholarship Recipient

The Class of 1954 University Honors Scholarship (formally the University Honors Scholarship) provides outstanding honors students with unusual opportunities in the last two years of undergraduate study – opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom and the campus. Scholars complete their education by seeking experience commensurate with the highest standards of intellectual and moral life. University Honors Scholars receive financial assistance for the usual college costs and a stipend for travel, research, or other activity.

The characteristics of University Honors Scholars should demonstrate previous - as well as the potential for - significant personal development in the following five qualities: 1) Intellectual curiosity and achievement, 2) Mental agility: to handle the unexpected and to solve problems, 3) Questing spirit: to pursue the greater challenge and to take the risk, 4) Moral character: to establish exceptional standards of personal and public ideals, expectations, and performance, and 5) Confirmed Leadership: to serve, lead, and receive the recognition of a peer group.

Congratulations to Brian Shapiro as the 2006 Recipient

Why Virginia Tech?

"I applied to nine schools, ranging in competitiveness from University of Oklahoma to Harvard. After finding out that I had been accepted everywhere I had applied, I began making my final decision between the University of Florida and Georgia Tech. Jack Dudley, Director of Honors at Virginia Tech, invited me for a visit. Upon visiting Virginia Tech, I fell in love with it. I met many students who were a lot like me; all of the faculty and staff were helpful; and most of all, I felt wanted. Dr. Dudley made it clear that he thought I was an interesting person and that was why he was recruiting me. I wanted to go to a school that took a personal interest in me, so I decided on Tech."

What has the scholarship provided you that you may not have received with the regular curriculum?

"My experience abroad will begin in Paris, as I work for the U.S. Department of Commerce at the Paris Air Show. I will get to meet people from all over the world who share my love of aviation (I earned my Private Pilot Certificate in the summer of 2005). From Paris, I will be going to Krakow, Poland to explore my roots. My father grew up Jewish in a family of Lithuanian heritage. Each year there is the Jewish Culture Festival, which has performances, language lessons, food, and history seminars. I plan to go next to Moscow to work again with the U.S. Department of Commerce at the Moscow Air Show. In addition to similar responsibilities and opportunities to those in Paris, I will have the opportunity to fly a MiG, one of the most exciting opportunities for any pilot. Everything the scholarship provides would not be available through a regular curriculum, so I am immensely grateful for the opportunity."

How has the scholarship impacted your time here at Virginia Tech and for the future?

"Through the application process, each applicant had to have a faculty mentor to meet with and discuss the project on a regular basis. While I put together my application portfolio, I met with my faculty mentor, Dr. Ezra "Bud" Brown, in the mathematics department. Getting to know a faculty member on that level was absolutely priceless, and I have made a wonderful, lifelong friend. For the future, the scholarship has huge implications. It is giving me the opportunity to experience the cultures and perspectives of people who have grown up in a very different society, but share my same passions."

Do you have plans to study abroad?

"I am thinking about it. I will be abroad on my Class of 1954 trip for the entirety of the 2007 summer. I am considering following that trip with a study abroad in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. If I do not spend an entire semester abroad, I plan on applying for a Fulbright Scholarship, which funds a year of graduate study to the country for which the applicant applies."

What has been your best experience at Virginia Tech?

"I have had many wonderful experiences since coming to Virginia Tech. I would say that meeting so many wonderful people has been amazing. Faculty and staff have been wonderful to me, but I probably learned more about life from the diverse group of friends that I have made. The friendships are priceless and I am grateful for every opportunity that I have been given."