University of Virginia Library

Echols Scholar Program Offers Studies Tailored To Interests

Programs for honors students or
special scholars often conjure up
visions of a stereotyped intellectual
sequestered in the library. In the
Echols Scholars Program at the
University, nothing could be
further from the truth.

An Echols Scholar is president
of the Student Council this year.
another is an editor of the daily
student newspaper; still others
fielded found and now administer
the Experimental University, which
offers nonacademic courses to the
community. They work at the
student radio stations, play in the
orchestra and participate in
intramurals.

The students and the program
are innovative by design. "We try to
select people who are not only
bright, but who will contribute to
the University while they are here."
says Marens B. Mallett, associate
dean for special programs of the
College of Arts and Sciences and
director of the program.

"Grades are not as important as
the process of learning," he
explains. "We do not require any
special courses or a major. The only
obligation a student has is to meet
the College's requirements for
graduation 120 semester hours of
credit and a Coverage."

The 80 first-year scholars were
chosen on the basis of high College
Board scores, outstanding
secondary school records and
academic promise. Most have
combined College Board aptitude
test scores of 1400 and were in the
top 5 per cent of their high school
classes.

Once in the Echols Scholars
Program, the students can tailor
their own course study to fit their
individual interests and abilities.
Any undergraduate course offered
in the College is open to scholars
with sufficient preparation or
ability to handle it, according to
Dean McBett.

During their first year, the
scholars live as a community in a
portion of a regular first-year
dormitory, recreating a modern
version of Thomas Jefferson's
"academical village." The remaining
years they may live wherever they
want, but many scholars choose to
room together.

"Many people think that there's
a lot of pressure on Echols
Scholars. Actually there's less
pressure on us than on regular
students because we don't have to
deal with lots of academic rules and
regulations," says Michael "Buzzy"
Waitzkin of Miami Beach, Fla.

Mr. Waitzkin, a fourth-year man
who wants to go to either law
school or graduate school, was in
the honors program in the
department of government and
foreign affairs, but dropped out to
take a wider variety of courses.
Now he is taking courses in art,
criminology and computer science
and doing independent study in
public policy with a law professor.

Kay Antoniewicz. An Echols Scholar, Still Finds Time To Play The Flute.