The John G. Tower Center for Political Studies is thrilled to announce the recipients of The Hatton Sumner Foundation Scholarships. SMU incoming seniors Hunter Kolon and Amanda Oh were awarded scholarship that will support their interests in diplomacy and international affairs.
Hunter is pursuing a degree Human Rights and Political Science on the Pre-Law track with minors in Public Policy & International Affairs, and Spanish. Hunter spent last semester studying in Bilbao, Spain and conducting independent research on Spain’s transitional justice processes. Hunter is also a Hunt Leadership Scholar, Highland Capital Management Tower Scholar, Dedman College Scholar, Pre-Law Scholar, and a member of SMU’s Hyer Society. Five years ago, Hunter founded a non-profit, Mission Comfort, a micro-loans program that supports women in the Dominican Republic to start and operate their own small businesses. This summer, The Hatton Sumner Scholarship will support Hunter during her internship with the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Human Rights, Democracy, and Labor in Washington D.C.
Amanda is a President’s Scholar and is pursuing a degree in History and Political Science with a minor in Statistics. She is an avid student researcher, having been awarded over $11,000 in research grants from various university departments. She is also a Richter Fellow, a Mayer Interdisciplinary Fellow, an Edwin L. Cox Fellow, and an Engaged Learning Fellow. She has written on the intellectual history of the Anglican Church, for which she received SMU’s all-university Weil Undergraduate Research Award. The Hatton Sumner Scholarship will provide Amanda the opportunity to intern at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C. where she will assist Bob Davis, senior editor of the Wall Street Journal, on his book about the impact of the Trade War on U.S.-China economic relations.
The Hatton Sumners Foundation supports programs and activities that foster an understanding of civic and personal responsibility. Sophomore and Junior students are evaluated on their academic record, participation in civic and community affairs and their potential for future leadership. Recipients of the scholarships participate in programs supported by the Foundation as well as the SMU Tower Center. Go here to learn more about this and other scholarship opportunities.