By Leigh DuPuy

For the first time in the university's history, an alumnus of UMass Boston has been awarded the prestigious Marshall scholarship. Mark D'Agostino '02 was one of 40 students nationwide to receive this extraordinary honor and the first Marshall scholar in the university system in 17 years.

He joins an elite group of previous recipients which include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Pulitzer Prize winning author Tom Friedman of the New York Times, and noted inventor Ray Dolby, to name a few. D'Agostino will pursue graduate study in neuroscience at Great Britain's Nottingham University.

"To be recognized as one of 40 students nationwide is a singular honor and recognition of the outstanding scholarship Mark conducted as a student at UMass Boston," said Chancellor Jo Ann Gora. "We are extraordinarily proud of his accomplishment and the mentoring he received here as an honors student."

D'Agostino graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in biology in June 2002. During his university career, D'Agostino received honors and distinction in biology and Honors Program scholar status. His accomplishments include earning straight A's while studying at Oxford University for a semester as a Consentino Scholarship recipient and presenting his senior thesis at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society.

D'Agostino also served as an officer of the Biochemistry and Pre-medical Societies at UMass Boston, volunteered at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, worked as an adult leader for the youth group at his parish church, and initiated and contributed to several programs for the disadvantaged.

He was accepted to medical school, but declined the offer when he realized that he wished to pursue research as the first step of his career. He currently works for Wyeth BioPharma as a cell culture process technician.

D'Agostino joins a growing group of honors students who have won top fellowships. In 1999 and 2001, four students have won Fulbright scholarships and three others have reached the semifinal or final rounds for competitive awards such as the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships. Their outstanding academic scholarship in the Honors Program won them a place among the country's most elite scholars.

"The first two groups of fellowship applicants, seven in all, established a magnificent record," said Monica McAlpine, director of the University Honors Program. Current honors students Mary Quilty and Bryan Withall have also applied for Fulbright scholarships and will hear the status of their applications in March. McAlpine proudly notes, "We are delighted to have three more applicants, talented, accomplished, and ambitious students who clearly belong in the company of their distinguished predecessors."

The Honors Program is university-wide and consists of honors-level courses, colloquia, senior projects, and academic support. Students in the program take accelerated and enriched courses, meet together for presentations and discussions in a junior–year colloquium, and complete seniors honors projects under the guidance of faculty mentors. Students are also encouraged to present their work at state and national conferences.

Financed by the British government, the highly competitive Marshall Scholarships provide an opportunity for American students who have demonstrated academic excellence to continue their studies for two to three years at the British university of their choice. The scholarships are worth about $60,000 each.

Image: On December 9, Chancellor Jo Ann Gora held her annual honors reception to recognize students who have applied for major fellowships. (From left to right) Mark D'Agostino '02, the first from UMass Boston to win the Marshall Scholarship; Monica McAlpine, director of the University Honors Program; Chancellor Gora; Mary Quilty, who is applying for a Fulbright to study in India; and Bryan Withall, who is applying for a Fulbright to study at the Johns-Hopkins-Nanjing Center in China. Quilty and Withall will hear decisions on their Fulbright applications in March. (Photo by Harry Brett)