Valley Student Earns Distinguished Scholarship
November 25th, 2006 - Posted in Education, ScholarshipA Valley woman is receiving a distinct honor. 896 applicants from 340 universities in the United States applied for the Rhodes Scholarship. Julie Veroff from Fresno is one of 32 men and women chosen to actually receive the scholarship for 2007.
The flute and the piano are just a few things the 21-year-old Stanford University senior majoring in international relations has mastered.
“Its so overwhelming to have this opportunity. I’m still not sure that I totally believe it,” said Veroff.
She graduated with honors from Edison High School in 2003. The Rhodes Scholarship will pay for two years of study at Oxford University in England, averaging about $45,000 per year. Veroff plans to complete her masters degree in developmental studies, economics and social anthropology.
Naturally, her parents are very proud of her. They say they have always taught their children the value of a good education.
“Just encouraged them to experience everything they wanted to,” her mother Marian Veroff said. “To take a taste of everything and when you feel that you like that, and you want to delve more into that, just go ahead.”
Murray Veroff knew years ago that his daughter wasn’t the average kid.
“But what’s amazing to us, is that you can pick a subject and start talking about it. And you think you are telling her something, and she already knows it,” said Murray Veroff.
Veroff says she is grateful to be awarded such a great opportunity and encourages others to strive for the best.
“Be true to yourself, find out what is really meaningful to you and pursue it,” Veroff said.
Veroff says now that she has the money to pay for tuition and other expenses, all that is left is to fill out the paper work from Oxford’s admissions office. So she can begin her studies there next October.