| Susie P. Gonzalez | 210-999-8406 | susie.gonzalez@trinity.edu |
| FULBRIGHT AWARDED TO TRINITY SENIOR |
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For the Fulbright, she will study with Bernie Degnan, a molecular evolutionist in the department of zoology and entomology at the University of Queensland, for two semesters. Miss Bebell met Dr. Degnan in October 1999, when she undertook a coral reef ecological field project during a study-abroad program. When she completes her Fulbright year, Miss Bebell will earn another bachelor's degree in science with honors. She plans to return to the United States to enter medical school. “I was always interested in science, and when I came to Trinity, I wanted to take advantage of the liberal arts program,” Miss Bebell says, adding that she sees the disciplines of biology and philosophy as “two approaches to how we live life.” She views her studies in biology as a good and logical background for medical school and her philosophy courses as a foundation for taking care of patients. If she chooses to blend the two fields, Miss Bebell says she could expand her work or study into such areas as bioethics. “The double major has been good preparation for the future,” she says. At St. Mary's High School in Medford, Ore., Miss Bebell took a number of Advanced Placement courses, enabling her to enter Trinity with 29 credit hours and opening up the possibility for a double major in such divergent fields. At Trinity, Miss Bebell has been on the Dean's List five semesters and a Trinity Presidential Scholar continuously since 1997. She is a member of four national honor societies — the Phi Beta Kappa, Blue Key, Mortar Board, and Alpha Lambda Delta. In addition, she is a member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta national pre-medical honor society. To enhance her academic experience, Miss Bebell held the office of student senator in the Association of Student Representatives and was in the Trinity University Voluntary Action Council, a member of the Margarite B. Parker Chapel Choir, second violin in the Trinity Symphony Orchestra, and a news writer in the office of public relations. History Professor Donald Clark, who is Trinity's Fulbright program advisor, lauded Miss Bebell's solid record in the field of microbiology and said her proposal for the Fulbright student program reflected “maturity, purpose, and dedication to a professional goal.” Campus committee members described Miss Bebell as “well spoken” and “gifted with extraordinary intellectual range and depth,” Professor Clark says. “She speaks and writes like a professional, is comfortable with all kinds of people, and she picked a place (University of Queensland) where cutting-edge work is being done in her field of interest,” Professor Clark says. “It was clear to us, and eventually to the Fulbright selections committees in New York and Australia, that a year of field work in Queensland would contribute significant strength to a career that everyone expects will be nothing less than brilliant.” James Shinkle, associate professor of biology at Trinity, added, “Her Fulbright proposal was a very astute synthesis of what she already had done in Australia and (a separate) project she worked on as a summer research fellow at Princeton (University) last summer.” Judith R. Norman, assistant professor of philosophy, said Miss Bebell has been a “truly outstanding student” at Trinity, enthusiastic about sharing ideas and capable of both formulating sophisticated insights and fostering discussion with other students in class. “What strikes me particularly about Lisa is not simply her intelligence, but the fact that she combines it with a heightened sense of values, a concern for the practical context and effects of ideas,” Professor Norman says. “I truly believe that she is pursuing a medical career motivated not only by a keen intellectual curiosity, but also from a genuine interest to help people and make the world a bit better.” Trinity University, founded in 1869, is a highly selective, professionally oriented liberal arts and sciences institution. This residential, primarily undergraduate coeducational university is noted for its superb facilities and undergraduate research opportunities. It is a learning community that has charted its course with a steadfast commitment to excellence for more than 130 years. |
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Last updated on April 10, 2001 by the Office of Public Relations |
April
4, 2001 —