Continuing its tradition of expanding the
vision and developing the potential of remarkable young leaders, the Watson
Foundation announced its 57th class of Thomas J. Watson Fellows, including
Hendrix College student Cecelia Schneider ’25. The prestigious fellowship
provides a year of unparalleled discovery to graduating college students from
any discipline.
“When I found out I won the Watson, it didn’t
feel real. I jumped up and screamed and cried. There were parts of me that
doubted it could be true,” Schneider recalled. “I still wake up with gratitude,
and I know it’s all going to feel even crazier once I embark.”
“Cecelia’s interdisciplinary major spans sociology,
neuroscience, and biology, and she’s made a name for herself in the work she’s
done with the Committee on Gender and Sexuality at Hendrix, which has promoted
a number of initiatives to increase sexual health and combat sexual assault on
campus,” said Britt Anne Murphy, Hendrix’s liaison to the Watson Fellowship.
Schneider’s project will explore sexuality
communication in New Zealand, Sweden, Mexico, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Nepal. She
seeks to discover how attitudes toward sex evolve in different cultures. Collaborating
with health professionals, educators, researchers, and grassroots leaders, she
will explore the many ways that sexuality resources are developed and deployed.
Schneider is among nine Hendrix students to
become Watson Fellows in the past seven years. The four candidates Hendrix
nominated this year continued their predecessors’ tradition of collaborating
during the application process. “This year’s candidates from Hendrix – Andy
Chaffin, Owen Edgington, Cecelia, and Scottie Traylor – supported one another
through every draft and interview prep session,” Murphy said. “They all are to
be commended for working together as they each built excellent proposals that
reflected the interest this generation has for connecting to other cultures
around the world on critical and complex issues.”
The application process alone was an intense
one, according to Schneider. She said, “The process of applying for Watson was
something akin to turning myself inside out. I wracked my brain for language
that could describe what the opportunity means to me.”
After many late nights and early mornings,
her work in applying for the Watson Fellowship paid off in the end. “I spent a
lot of time connecting with people who work in the field of sexual health. This
meant waking up at ungodly hours of the night to Zoom call with people in
different time zones,” continued Schneider. “Just applying exposed me to many
different types of jobs in the field of sexual health that I didn't even know
existed!”
This year’s class of Watson Fellows reflects
a broad range of disciplines, socio-economic backgrounds, and project
diversity. They will travel to 52 countries pursuing topics ranging from
emergency medicine to immersive history; from agriculture policy to interactive
textiles; from animal conservation to vernacular architecture.
“We are grateful to have Hendrix as one of
just 41 partner colleges and universities working with the Watson Fellowship
Program,” Murphy added. “The Watson Foundation’s investment in Hendrix students
creates not just global citizens, but future leaders for Arkansas and the
nation.”
“The Watson encourages students to identify
the most important themes in their lives and imagine them as projects on an
international scale. The journey produces a year of life-changing perspective
and cultural connection that shapes the arc of fellows' lives,” said Chris
Kasabach, executive director of the Watson Foundation. "It’s never been
more important for young leaders to engage with others across differences,
disciplines and borders.”
A native of Little Rock, Cecelia Schneider is
the daughter of Michael Schnieder and Elizabeth Seng.
For a complete list of fellows and projects
please visit https://watson.foundation/fellowships/tj/fellows.
About the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
Watson Fellows are nominated by 41 colleges
and university partners across the United States. Fellows receive $40,000 for 12
months of travel and college loan assistance as needed. Following the year they
join a community of peers who provide support and inspiration.
The Watson community includes international
and local leaders – artists, CEOs, community organizers, diplomats, Emmy-,
Grammy-, MacArthur-, Oscar- and Pulitzer-recipients, entrepreneurs, faculty,
healthcare pioneers, journalists, lawyers, politicians, researchers, and
committed social advocates.
About the Watson Foundation
In 1961, the Watson Foundation was created in
the name of Thomas J. Watson Sr, best known for building IBM. Through
one-of-a-kind programs, and over 100 global partnerships, the Foundation works
with students to expand their vision, develop their potential, and build the
confidence and perspective to be more humane and effective leaders in the world
community.
About
Hendrix College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in Colleges
That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges
and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic
quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus
life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III
sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since
1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“… Through engagement that links the
classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice,
and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives
of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” –Hendrix
College Statement of Purpose