Wellington College student wins prestigious Jefferson Scholarship

Sophie H, an Upper Sixth student at Wellington College, has been awarded one of the most highly selective merit scholarships to university in the United States. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia selected Sophie as one of 38 recipients of the Jefferson Scholarship. She will commence her studies in the fall at U.Va.

To be named a Scholar, candidates must undergo a rigorous, highly competitive, multi-stage selection process. This year, over 2,000 students were nominated for the Scholarship, and 118 finalists were invited to take part in a four-day competition at U.Va., which included seminar discussions, essay and mathematics examinations, as well as interviews conducted by U.Va. alumni and faculty.

The 38 selected recipients of the 2019 Jefferson Scholarship boast a number of significant achievements and Sophie is no exception. During her time at Wellington College, Sophie has excelled in the classroom, on the hockey pitch, in musical performance, and as a leader in the community both at the College and through her extensive volunteer work.

In addition to receiving the full cost of attending the University for four years, Jefferson Scholars benefit from a number of enrichment programmes sponsored by the Foundation, including travel abroad, career networking activities, an outdoor challenge program, and a leadership speaker series.