Princeton University Athletics
Shackelton Awarded Rhodes Scholarship
December 10, 2002 | Women's Cross Country
Dec. 10, 2002
Laura Shackelton, the senior co-captain of the 2002 women's cross country team, has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, which provides funding for two or three years of study at the University of Oxford in England.
Shackelton, a senior majoring in molecular biology has done research in neurovirology and plans to pursue a master's degree in genetics and virology at Oxford. In addition to her biology degree, she is a certificate candidate in Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
"Believing that someday I might have the opportunity to share my knowledge -- to help others understand the dynamic microbial world -- is my inspiration," Shackelton said.
Shackelton also won a Marshall Scholarship, but turned it down to accept the Rhodes.
Shackelton is a two-time winner of Princeton's Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence and was a 2001 delegate at the Washington Institute for Health Policy. Shackelton also writes science articles for various publications. She has served as a volunteer in a hospital.
As a sophomore, Shackelton set the Princeton record for the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 11:08.12.
Shackelton is one of 32 American students chosen as 2003 Rhodes Scholars from 981 applicants in a nationwide competition. Recipients were chosen on the basis of high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership and physical vigor. The awards were created in 1902 by British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes.