FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Four Arkansas students and a fifth from Memphis, Tenn., will enter the University of Arkansas in August 2007 as Sturgis Fellows in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. The Sturgis Fellowship, which awards each student $50,000 over four years, is the oldest fellowship at the university and among the most prestigious scholarships offered by any university in the country.

Christopher Evans

Elise Geraghty

John Jolly

David Koehler

Taylor Spicer

The 2007 Sturgis Fellows are Christopher Evans of Russellville, Elise Geraghty of Fort Smith, John Jolly of Greenbrier, David Koehler of Sherwood and Taylor Spicer of Memphis. They were chosen from more than 400 students who applied for the fellowships. Selections were based on the student’s academic achievement, school involvement and volunteerism. Applicants were required to write two essays, submit a high school transcript, national test scores and letters of recommendation. Finalists were invited to campus for an interview, and a selection committee chose the five Sturgis fellows from that group.

“This year’s group presented the committee with an extraordinary range of multi-talented students, and this diversity is amply represented by this talented group,” said Sidney Burris, director of the Fulbright College Honors Program and chair of the selection committee. “All of us are looking forward to their arrival here on campus.” He pointed out that the 2007 Sturgis class boasts an average composite score of 33 on the ACT and a 4.0 high school grade point average.

Christopher Evans graduated first in his class at Russellville High and was an active member of the Model United Nations. He plans to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and economics with an emphasis in Asian studies and Chinese.

Elise Geraghty is a graduate of Southside High School, where she was active in honors and advanced placement courses and participated in band, quiz bowl and cross country. She intends to major in biology and plans to attend medical school.

John Jolly graduated from Conway High School, where he combined academics with athletics, completing advanced placement courses while lettering in football and basketball. He plans to pursue international studies, focusing on German and French languages, as well as English and philosophy.

David Koehler attended Catholic High in Little Rock where he was involved in many extracurricular activities, including the chess, theology, philosophy and Beta clubs, while also volunteering in his community by giving swimming lessons and reading to a blind veteran. He plans to study the humanities and social sciences. 

Taylor Spicer graduated in the top 3 percent of her class at White Station High School in Memphis. She held leadership positions in her local chapter of Amnesty International and spent three weeks in Kenya helping to build a new school. Taylor plans to major in international relations at the University of Arkansas.

The Sturgis Fellowship is made possible by an endowment from the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust to the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Each Sturgis Fellow receives $12,500 per year. The Fellowship pays for tuition, room and board, and provides the students with discretionary funds for such expenses as computers, musical instruments, professional journals, study abroad excursions and trips to conferences.