Senior Hemel is named Marshall Scholar, 2007

Lowell House senior, social studies concentrator, and Harvard Crimson managing editor Daniel J. Hemel has been named a 2007 Marshall Scholar and plans to spend the next two academic years studying at Oxford University.

Hemel is one of two Harvard students among the 44 U.S. citizens named 2007 Marshall Scholars, announced by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Committee and confirmed by the British Ambassador’s Advisory Council on Dec. 4.

For story on first Marshall

At least 40 Marshall Scholarships are awarded annually to U.S. citizens who have received a bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.7 grade point average. The scholarships are good for expenses at a British university of the scholar’s choice for two years of study.

The scholarships were created in 1953 to build on the success of the Rhodes Scholarships and to thank the citizens of the United States for help rebuilding after World War II. The aim of the scholarships is to increase understanding between citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom, ensuring a continuing close relationship in the future.

Hemel, a native of Scarsdale, N.Y., plans to earn an M.Phil. in international relations at Oxford. He has expressed interest in exploring a career in journalism on his return.

Hemel’s interest in journalism and international relations were piqued as a result of a reporting experience for the Crimson. During his sophomore year, he listened to Romeo Dallaire, commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda, speak at Harvard about the American media’s failure to prod its government into action on human rights atrocities in Rwanda and Darfur. After hearing this, Hemel co-wrote an article for the Crimson about the issue.

‘I saw how powerful the news can be simply by presenting facts to the public,’ said Hemel. ‘It showed me that engaged journalism can make a difference, and that international relations are not so far removed that an individual can’t have an impact.’