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May 19, 2006 > News > Beinecke, Presidency fellows named

Beinecke, Presidency fellows named

Herrera to study Brazilian literature, Escobar U.S. foreign policy

By Stephanie Jennings | Thresher staff

Brown College junior Alberto Herrera won Rice’s first Beinecke scholarship since 2000 — the sixth in Rice’s history — and Wiess College sophomore Tito Escobar received the Center for the Study of the Presidency fellowship.

Valued at $32,000, 20 Beinecke scholarships were awarded this year to juniors who will attend graduate school in the humanities or social sciences and who demonstrate financial need as undergraduates. Each of the 106 participating universities is allowed to nominate one student for the scholarship. Director of scholarships and fellowships Mauro De Lorenzo said four students applied for the Rice nomination.

Herrera, a Hispanic studies major, plans to pursue a Ph.D. in comparative literature and Latin American studies at the University of California at Berkeley starting in the fall of 2007.

Herrera said he wants to focus on “literatura de cordel,” a form of Brazilian literature circulated in pamphlet form that addresses political and social topics. Herrera became interested in the topic while studying abroad in Brazil in the fall. A native of El Paso, he is also interested in Mexican-American border literature.

“I see [my studies] as a great way to merge social justice, education and arts — which I care deeply about — into something I can teach or organize others around,” he said.

De Lorenzo said Herrera was a competitive candidate because of his passion.

“[Herrera] is someone who’s going to be both a scholar and an activist,” De Lorenzo said. “His students are going to be very lucky to have someone who’s so intense about his work.”

The CSP Fellowship allows undergraduate and graduate students to do mentored research and present an original paper on the presidency. CSP Fellows travel to Washington D.C. for conferences in November and April.

De Lorenzo said Escobar deserves the award because of his experience and commitment.

“[Escobar] was the clear choice because he impressed the committee with his extraordinary breadth in government and public service,” De Lorenzo said. “For someone who’s a sophomore, he has a wide range of experience and is very well-spoken.”

Escobar, a Hispanic studies, political science and policy studies major, has worked for Congressman Charles Gonzalez, D-Texas, and will work for him again in Washington this summer.

Escobar will research the president’s Latin American policy and will be mentored by Political Science Professor Paul Brace.

“I have a vast background in congressional network, but I’m lacking in the executive branch,” Escobar said. “I feel this will help me approach policy problems I’m interested in from another perspective.”

Escobar will begin his research this summer and work through the fall semester. Escobar said he plans to attend law school, possibly get an M.B.A. and work in public office.

Selection criteria for the CSP fellowship include academic achievement and a commitment to public policy. The fellowship has no monetary award, but Rice pays for all transportation to Washington, and the program pays for all other costs.

Each participating university is allowed to nominate one student. De Lorenzo said a record seven students applied for the fellowship.

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