March 29, 2005 | Alumni

Luce Scholars Selected to Live, Work in Asia

Two Northwestern alumni have been selected as Luce Scholars for 2005-06.

The award recipients -- who both received their undergraduate degrees from Northwestern in 2001 -- are Mark Little and Ayelish McGarvey.

Both will begin one-year internships in August to live and work in an Asian country. They are among 15 young Americans chosen by the Luce Scholars Program each year; Luce Scholars are provided with a stipend and a cost of living and housing allowance. The Luce Program also funds intensive language study for the country where the scholar is placed. The purpose of the program is to increase awareness of Asia among future leaders in American society.

Little currently is a candidate for an M.Phil degree in international development at Oxford University, and McGarvey is a writing fellow at The American Prospect magazine, specializing in religion and other national issues.

Little received a bachelor’s degree in economics at Northwestern in 2001 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. McGarvey received a bachelor’s degree with honors in education and social policy in 2001. Both students were supported by the University’s fellowship office before and after graduation, a service provided by the office to both current and former students.

Since 2000, six Northwestern University graduates have been awarded Luce scholarships. Two Northwestern graduates chosen last year will complete their 2004-05 assignments in July.

Alex Ortolani, who received a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and English, is with the Far Eastern Economic Review in Hong Kong. Alexis Chiu, who received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism, is with the Shanghai Star in Shanghai, China.

Luce Scholars have backgrounds in virtually any field. The program is unique in that it is intended for young leaders who have no prior experience with Asia. It aims to foster an expanding body of citizens who, without being specialists, are familiar with and responsive to Asian cultures and societies.

Placements can be made in the following countries in East and Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, China and Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.