Varsity fencer scores scholarship to study in the United Kingdom

The Office of Fellowships is chuffed to announce that fencer Katharine “Katie” Van Riper (WCAS ’18) has been named Northwestern University’s most recent recipient of the Durham University Elite Athlete Scholarship! With the scholarship's support, Katie will pursue an MA in museum and artifact studies while she continues to compete for Team Durham.

Hailing from Marietta, GA, Katie majors in history and psychology, with a minor in Spanish. She studied abroad in London during the summer of 2016 and looks forward to returning to the United Kingdom. Katie also wrote her senior history thesis on Irish volunteers in the Spanish Civil War. Alongside her familiarity with the United Kindgom, Katie has prepared for a career in museum work with an internship, last summer, at the National Museum of the American Sailor, in Great Lakes, IL. This summer, she will intern at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, in Edgartown, MA.

When she’s not hitting the books, Katie is hitting opponents on the piste. During her four years on the varsity fencing team, Katie has amassed an impressive resume. In addition to being named All-Midwest Conference First Team in 2017 and 2018, she is one of only three current Wildcats with over 150 career wins. She ends her career at Northwestern as one of the team leaders on the most successful fencing squad in school history.

At Durham, Katie will study and compete at one of Britain’s leading academic and athletic institutions, and enjoy the benefits awarded to scholars through the Elite Athlete Support Programme.

Contact Beth Pardoe at e-pardoe@northwestern.edu to learn more about the Durham Elite Athlete Scholarship.