As Nitheyaa Shree (B.S. ’21) prepares to start her Ph.D. program in neuroscience at the University of Bristol in England, she can draw a direct line between receiving Georgia State University’s Presidential Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship that will pay for her graduate studies.
Attending Georgia State was an easy financial decision for Shree because of the Presidential Scholarship. But the opportunities the scholarship provided her were equally important and, in hindsight, perhaps more consequential.
“When I arrived at Georgia State, I was interested in studying computer science and neuroscience,” said Shree. “The Presidential Scholarship gave me the freedom to explore my interests without worrying about the cost of taking extra credit hours.”
The research assistantship that came with the scholarship was also an important feature for Shree, one that proved to be remarkably influential and rewarding.
“I was able to establish a relationship with Dr. Sarah Pallas and the lab before I even started my freshman year,” said Shree. “That early access and getting that hands-on experience in the lab helped me identify research as a career. Working in the lab definitely showed me the path.”
Shree’s work in the lab with Dr. Pallas and Dr. Angela Mabb also provided her the opportunity to present her research at local, national and international conferences. She credits these experiences, as well as the opportunity to co-author a paper with Dr. Mabb, with helping her receive prestigious national and international scholarships.
“The rigorous research experience I gained in Dr. Pallas’ lab really helped me stand out from other candidates when I applied for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education,” said Shree. “The chance to present at several conferences over the years helped demonstrate to the Marshall Scholars awarding committee that I was knowledgeable in my field of study.”
Shree is Georgia State’s first Marshall Scholar and that illustrious scholarship will fund her graduate studies in Bristol.
“The generosity of Georgia State’s donors has impacted me on such a deep level, not only on my university experiences but on my future,” said Shree. “Without their support of the Presidential Scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to attend Georgia State.”
“I’m going to get my Ph.D. at an international university and be debt-free. That’s unimaginable without the donors who make opportunities like the Presidential Scholarship possible.