Initiating the first step in President Conant's program to bring to Harvard, young men of outstanding ability from all over the country, the first of the new Prize Fellowships at Harvard, College, have been awarded to ten boys from the Middle West with exceptional school records.
The followships, awarded regardless of financial need, yet at the same time carrying a maximum stipend of $1,000 the first year and $1,200 each year there after, are parts of a unique experiment to reward students of rare academic promise.
This fellowship program affords opportunity for talented boys of limited means who would otherwise find it difficult to obtain a college education. The selection was based on considerations of character, originality, and initiative, as well as school records, and the results of the scholastic aptitude tests and any other college board examinations that may have been taken.
Detailed information about the candidates was obtained from the schools and from members of the community from which they came and among the 250 applicants, 105 were the highest ranking scholars in their schools. Applications were restricted to boys living in and attending school in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Minnesota.
List of Recipients
Following is a list of the recipients of these most recent of Harvard's awards:
Adoniram Judson Wells Jr., aged 17, of Highland Park, Ill., graduate of Deerfield-Shields Township High School. Wells was valedictorian of his class, was active in school publications, dramatics, and track, and has shown originality in his chemistry laboratory at home.
Gordon Myron Messing, aged 17, of Indianapolis, Ind., graduate of Shortridge High School. He is the son of Samuel M. Messing, salesman. Messing ranked first in his class, was an editor of the school paper, leader of the debating team, and winner of a city-wide French contest. His ambition is to enter some branch of medicine.
Donald Neal McKay, aged 16, of Fort Snelling, Minn., graduate of Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis. McKay is the son of Major William G. McKay, surgeon to the U. S. Army stationed at Fort Snelling. McKay was admitted to Harvard under the honor plan, without examination. He had the highest scholastic average in his class at Roosevelt High, was co-captain of the swimming team, and was a leader on school committees and school publications. His mother was a high school teacher, and his grandfather a professor at Ames, Ia. He wants to become an army officer.
William Aaron Selz, aged 17, of Dayton, O., graduate of Steele High School. He is the son of William A. Selz, printer. Selz was first among all high school seniors in Ohio this year in the annual scholarship tests given by the state department of education. He was captain of the school debating team, editor of a school publication, and president of the literary society. His major interests are English and philosophy, and his desire is to enter literary work.
Burdick Green Clarke, aged 17, of Winnetka, Ill., a graduate of North Shore Country Day School. He is the son of Harry P. Clarke, teacher of physical education. Clarke ranked first among all the boys in his class, was football manager, basketball manager, manager of the senior play, class treasurer, class secretary, was active in dramatics and debating, and played in the school orchestra. His hobby is the study of trees and he has conducted a tree nursery for the past four years.
Paul Richard Vogt, aged 17, of Milwaukee, Wis., graduate of Riverside High School. He is the son of Robert F. Vogt, consulting engineer. He was the president of the debating society and the German Club, program chairman of the Science Club, associate editor of the school paper, junior class treasurer and manager of the junior prom. He has constructed electrical and mechanical devices in his laboratory at home, and has made a collection of Wisconsin plant galls and geological specimens. He intends to enter engineering or other scientific work.
Edwin Fisher Ringer, aged 18, of South Minneapolis, Minn., graduate of the Blake High School, Minneapolis. He was the leading school debater, was managing editor of Blake publications and secretary of the Blake Union. He is the son of Walter M. Ringer, machinery manufacturer. He intends to become a lawyer.
Robert Carl Jones, aged 18, of Toledo, O., graduate of DeVibiss High School. He is the son of William C. Jones, civil engineer. He stood first in his class, was active in debating and dramatics. He is an amateur radio operator and constructed an electrical and chemical laboratory in his home. In 1933 he placed first in Ohio in the physics test given by the state department of education, and in 1934 was first in the Northwest Ohio district in the general scholarship test. He is to specialize in scientific research.
John Lyell Dampeer, aged 18, of Cleveland Heights, O., graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. He is the son of James W. Dampeer, a newspaper auditor. He ranked first in his
