Four outstanding undergraduate students and two recent graduates have been approved by WVU for nationally competitive scholarships.
Jillian Blair of Wheeling has been approved for both a Marshall Scholarship and a Rhodes Scholarship.
Bethany Braszczyk of Fairmont, Logan Revie of Berkeley Springs, and Jarquan Tarley of Fairmont have been approved for the Marshall Scholarship.
Azim Khan of Charleston and Riley “Red” Klug of New Martinsville have been approved for Rhodes Scholarships.
Blair He is a senior majoring in Environmental and Energy Resources Management with minors in Sustainable Design and Geology. A leader on campus, she serves as policy coordinator for the Student Government Association Executive Board and was previously a member of the College Senate and Chair of Sustainability.
Interested in pursuing a career in sustainable business management and the circular economy, an emerging economic concept of transparent supply chains, ethical business and renewable “cradle-to-cradle” consumption habits, Blair believes the most effective way to change a broken system is to change the system. The way money moves through it.
“In the case of energy and economics, I try never to look at some of the organizations involved in industries that threaten the environment as enemies, but rather as a key player with valuable insight from where they were and the mechanisms that help us move forward,” she said.
Both scholarship programs provide ample opportunities for Blair to expand her knowledge through degree programs and network with alumni from around the world.
As a Marshall Scholar, she will enroll in two one-year master’s programs. In the first year, Blair will study the Future of Renewable Energy at Imperial College London and Sustainable Business Leadership at the University of York in the second year. As part of the Rhodes Scholarship, you will study Sustainability, Enterprise and Environment in the first year with automatic admission to the MBA in the second year.
Both programs will also give her the opportunity to explore the world.
“I’ve lived in West Virginia my whole life,” Blair said. “Although it will always be my home, I would be foolish if I didn’t think there was a lot to learn from different people, landscapes, cultures and languages. And if I think about it, there’s a real possibility that I could be the first person some people from West Virginia have met,” This is very exciting to me.
Prachik He is a senior majoring in anthropology and dance with a minor in art history. She is treasurer of the WVU Anthropology Club and a member of the editorial board of the Mountaineer Undergraduate Research Review.
Over the summer, Brasic spent four weeks in Italy as part of the San Gemini Conservation Studies Program, which included the analysis, conservation and restoration of Etruscan and Roman pottery.
She also completed a 10-day intercession tour visiting important Renaissance, Medieval and Roman sites, including the restoration laboratories of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence and the National Etruscan Museum in Rome.
Through her experiences, including conducting research at a Native American burial mound in Clarksburg, Prasek is working on a career as a museum curator.
If selected for a Marshall Scholarship, she plans to pursue a dual master’s degree in Principles of Conversation at University College London and Group Care at Cardiff University.
“I know that the knowledge I will gain during my time in the UK will allow me to fully combine my teaching and research skills and conduct my research on Native American populations in West Virginia with new perspectives,” she said.
rural He graduated in August with degrees in psychology and biology with an emphasis in neuroscience. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in neuropsychology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands while conducting research on the therapeutic potential and neural mechanisms of psychedelic drugs.
During his time at WVU, Riffey made his mark on campus through academics, leadership and service – including promoting better access to mental health resources for WVU students, leading Active Minds at WVU and being part of the Student Government Association.
By investing in a better understanding of the neuroscience behind mental health and substance use disorders, Revie hopes to ultimately combine research findings with effective education to advocate for lasting policy changes.
“The UK is a hub for psychedelic research, with many institutions busy uncovering how and why psychedelics could be the most effective treatment for mental health disorders,” he said. “There are still a lot of unknowns about how they work and why they are found to be better than traditional psychiatric medications, and this is among my motivations for pursuing a career in psychedelics.
“I grew up surrounded by the consequences of poor psychiatric infrastructure, and the Marshall Scholarship can be the catalyst through which I can make lasting change for those struggling with their mental health and/or substance abuse,” Reiffe added.
Tarly He graduated in December 2022 with a degree in International Studies and Russian Studies and minors in Geography and Slavic and East European Studies.
As a student, she had the opportunity to represent West Virginia University as a key delegate to Model United Nations, received the Eberly College Distinguished Award in Russian Studies and participated in the West Virginia University Russian and East European Club.
If selected for a Marshall Scholarship, she plans to pursue two master’s degrees – one in global diplomacy and politics at the University of Westminster and a second in national security studies at King’s College London.
“Growing up in West Virginia, facing the hardships of a poor socioeconomic situation, the Marshall Scholarship provided me with the opportunity to enhance my intellectual and personal growth, further develop cross-cultural communication, and expand my field of expertise in an academic environment that includes the most dynamic and renowned programs and institutions in the world,” she said.
Recognizing the importance of diplomacy, Tarly aspires to serve as a Foreign Service Officer with an interest in security and diplomacy in Russia and Eastern Europe.
“I believe that now, more than ever, we must transform conflict into cooperation to ensure international peace and security, and I hope that we will gain the necessary tools and experience needed for negotiations and diplomatic relations,” Tarly said.
Khan He is a senior majoring in political science with dual minors in cybersecurity for business and philosophy.
Earlier this year, he was awarded a Truman Scholarship based on his academic excellence, leadership and commitment to a career in public service.
If he receives a Rhodes Scholarship, Khan plans to pursue a master’s degree in criminology, criminal justice and public policy.
“Oxford is a globally recognized institution and community with a proven track record of being on the front lines of solving the world’s most challenging problems,” he said. “I would like to try to contribute as much as I can to addressing some of these challenges.”
Khan believes these degrees will strengthen his perspective as a potential attorney who wants to help areas across America that are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic.
“The opioid epidemic, in my opinion, is one of the most important challenges of our lifetime,” he said. “I believe these degrees at Oxford will allow me to study trends and strategies around the world to gain an in-depth understanding of this global problem and identify solutions to help millions around the world who are suffering. This unparalleled opportunity will help me become an ambitious and much stronger lawyer in Solving community problems.
Cluj He is a senior double major in Art History and Anthropology with minors in History, Native American Studies, and Political Science. Klug is also pursuing a World Mountaineer certification.
Klug participated in two summer study abroad programs, including the San Gemini Conservation Studies Program in Italy and the Blue Creek Maya Research Program in Belize.
If he is awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, Klug plans to complete a master’s degree in Latin American studies at the University of Oxford with the aim of gaining the knowledge and understanding necessary for a doctorate and a teaching position at a university.
“I would like to eventually become a university professor of modern Latin American studies, conducting research and offering specialized courses on controversial politics in South America,” she said. “My main goal is to be able to continue researching the topics I find myself most interested in.”
Klug believes that participating in a Rhodes Scholarship will allow her to learn more about herself and look more introspectively into her academic future.
“The entire application process allowed me to consider all my options, consider all my interests and be certain about what the future of my academic career holds,” Klug said.
