The Fellowships Office proudly announces that David McMillan ’21 was awarded the Rotary International Global Grant Scholarship to study for an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Oxford. David received a $30,000 grant for one year to study at Oxford. Our graduate assistant Christine got a chance to catch up with David and ask a couple of questions about his experience with applying to the Rotary Foundation, and to see what he has planned for his time at the University of Oxford.
David, what interested you in applying for the Rotary Global Grant Scholarship?
As I prepared my Oxford application, I noticed the inclusion of the Rotary Global Grant Scholarship in the list of scholarships that the Faculty of Law at Oxford advertised to prospective students. Both the scholarship amount (a minimum award of $30,000) and the reputation of Rotary International encouraged me to apply; the scholarship would provide me with the financial means to pursue the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice and it would allow me to connect with Rotarians who are deeply committed to making the world a better place through funding high-impact interventions and programs. When I started to do some preliminary research on the Rotary scholarship application process, I looked on the TCNJ Competitive Post-Graduate Fellowships webpage and realized that Jessica Nicol, a former classmate, had recently received the scholarship. It was extremely valuable to have a TCNJ alum willing to share advice with me as I prepared my application.
How has your experience at Oxford University been thus far? What are ways that you are engaging with the community?
So far, I’ve really enjoyed my experience at Oxford! There are some really neat ancient traditions here (i.e. matriculation, formal hall, etc.), but I’ve most enjoyed the intellectual community that the University has built here. Conversations with other students in my college invariably become wonderful opportunities to learn about the research that Oxford students are completing on vaccine development, quantum computing, and a range of other subjects. In my classes, students are from all around the world and bring unique insights from different national and professional backgrounds. The faculty teaching my courses have all been terrific and generous with their time: One particularly memorable class from the Michaelmas (fall) term was a course on the death penalty, which Carolyn Hoyle, whose scholarship and advocacy has been a catalyst for several countries to abolish the death penalty, taught. While I do spend a considerable amount of time completing readings for the course, I’ve found time to join student organizations such as the Wolfson-St. Cross College men’s soccer team and the Oxford Union while also participating in a range of rewarding Rotary activities associated with my scholarship.
What gave you the courage to apply for the scholarship?
I knew that my undergraduate studies at TCNJ prepared me to compete with students from other elite institutions; similarly, I was confident that my professional experiences reflected my commitment to public service and aligned with the global priorities of Rotary International. While fear of failure can prevent some people from setting goals and applying for competitive opportunities; I’ve always believed that this is all the more reason to set goals and take risks.
What are some words of encouragement you would give to a TCNJ student applying for the Rotary Global Grant Scholarship?
I’d recommend that students take a look at Rotary’s seven areas of focus to find which Rotary area aligns with their graduate degree. If students would like to connect about the Rotary Global Scholarship or would like feedback or advice on their application to graduate school, I’d be more than happy to work with them. Finally, I’d encourage students to remember Nike’s classic slogan “Just Do It.”
For more information on The Rotary Foundation, please visit,
https://my.rotary.org/en/take-action/apply-grants/global-grants
