27 November 2009

Georgia college student gets Marshall Scholarship

Source: Emory Wheel, 23 November 2009

Kathryn Marklein has received the prestigous Marshall Scholarship to pursue a master’s in osteology and funerary archaeology at the University of Sheffield.

Emory College senior Kathryn Marklein received the Marshall Scholarship yesterday, the 13th Emory student to ever receive the prestigious award.
The scholarship has been awarded to up to 40 students nationally each year since its inception in 1954.

Marklein, who is a double major in classics and anthropology and human biology, will pursue two master's degrees: one in skeletal and dental bioarchaeology at the University College London and another in osteology and funerary archaeology University of Sheffield for two years after graduating college.

“I’d known about the Marshall since the 9th grade, but I never thought I’d actually apply for it,” Marklein, a Vermont native, said. “I’m just in complete and utter joy. I’m stupefied.”

Up to 40 students nationwide are selected for the scholarship annually, which provides its recipients graduate studies at any university in the United Kingdom for two years. The award, approximately $38,000 each year, includes tuition and allowance.

The last Emory student to receive the award was Adam Berry (’06C) in 2005.

The Marshall Scholarship was founded in 1953 in honor of U.S. Sec. of State George C. Marshall and the Marshall Plan, and is available only to U.S. citizens.

The award’s criteria include excellent scholarship beyond just the GPA, potential for future leadership in the student’s field of study and potential for success in graduate school, according to Director of the National Scholarships and Fellowship Program at Emory Dee McGraw. Marklein’s dedication to and passion for skeletal biology was shown through her extensive research and independent studies through college, and her work at an archeological field in Athens, Greece, this summer, McGraw added.

Marklein was one of 10 candidates nominated from Emory. Six of the 10 students made it to the “Atlanta” region of the scholarship, which includes seven Southern states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Three of the six students were selected as finalists.

In addition to meeting the qualifications for the scholarship, McGraw said Marklein was a compatible match for the award and its vision. One of the qualities that helped Marklein stand out was her ability to draw from both her classics and anthropology backgrounds, McGraw said.

“She’s able to sort through artifacts, especially human remains, and because of her knowledge of the classics, the history, the stories, the mythology and the literature of the time along with her expertise in the scientific component of it. She can put the stories together and make sense of her findings,” McGraw said.

The interdisciplinary connections helps her understand her findings better, Marklein said.

“I consider myself an anthropologist but like I said, I do like to study classical populations. It’s nice researching a population and getting the information but really understanding the historical context,” Marklein said.

At the University College London nd University of Sheffield, Marklein plans to study with leading researchers Simon Hillson, who is a professor of bioarcheology, and Andrew Chamberlain, a biological anthropology professor.

Marklein, an aspiring bioarcheology professor, said she first became interested in biological anthropology through her freshman seminar class in biological anthropology, taught by George Armelagos, Goodrich C. White professor and chair of the anthropology department. Although she was on the pre-med track, Marklein said she found herself engulfed in bioarcheology.

“We just walked in and there were two skeletons laying out on the table the first day. There was something so trancing about it. And I was just hooked that day,” Marklein said.

She conducted further research with Armelagos through independent study and has presented her findings at national meetings, Armelagos said.

“I’m really excited about the chance that she has. She’s an excellent choice. She’ll be a wonderful anthropologist,” Armelagos said. “I’m at the end of my career, and I feel happy that there will be someone like Kathryn to pick up where I left off in terms of future of skelobiology.”

Marklein is involved in Theater Emory and Ad Hoc Productions. She has starred in “The Apple Tree” this semester, and will play in spring’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” She also sings at the Catholic Center on Sunday mornings and has volunteered at the Hope Lodge through her four years at Emory.

“Not just the stories of the dead, but the stories of the living interest her as well,” McGraw said.