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Honors student wins $30K award

By Erena Baybik
Daily Staff Reporter

Winning the Truman Scholarship brings Heather Stoll one step closer to her ultimate goal -- to represent the United States in the United Nations.

"One of the reasons I won was because I've worked with a lot of different U.N. organizations," Stoll said. "My dedication to an agenda that I want to have a part in helping to formulate is another reason."

The $30,000 scholarship was awarded to four Michigan college students. Stoll was the only one from the University.

The scholarship is given to students interested in public service careers in politics, environmental protection and other fields.

"University students have won this in the past; however, Stoll is the first in the last three years," said scholarship coordinator Nancy Pietras. "She won it based on what she's done and what she wants to do."

"She's bright and hardworking," said political science Prof. Pradeep Chhibber. "Her willingness to take on challenging ideas and listen to different things is what makes her stand out from the rest."

Stoll currently serves as the director of the University's Model United Nations and director of the Mid-American Global Education Counsel. She also serves as an administrative assistant at Failure Analysis Association, an engineering and consulting firm.

Despite this list of accomplishments, Stoll said she won because of her academic achievements and her strong commitment to her beliefs.

"A lot of people are very good on paper but she has solid ideas and clear goals of what she wants to do," said Liina Wallin, associate director of the honors program.

Stoll has set expectations for U.S. foreign affairs, and plans to work toward achieving them.

"I believe America needs to remain involved in United Nations and the things that happen in the world," Stoll said. "The U.S. government needs to draw more strongly on the opinions of specialists and academics, because only through understanding history, culture and the politics of a region can we as Americans understand what is really happening and how best to respond to it."

Stoll said she tries to maintain an open mind. "I can empathize with cultures that are strange to the average American," Stoll said. "A lot of times there is a reason for why they are the way they are -- there's always a rationale behind things based in their cultures and beliefs that you have to respect.

After participating in Model United Nations in high school, Stoll got inspiration from global education programs that helped students learn about other countries -- that and her idol, artist Michael Whelan. "I look up to him the most because he transcends the imagination," Stoll said.

Her co-workers at the Mid-American Education Global Counsel also serve as a source of inspiration for Stoll. "These are `ordinary' people who give up so much of their time to help educate America's youth and improve the understanding of other people," Stoll said. "They give so much of their personal time and energy to this cause that they so strongly believe in. That kind of commitment is where America's future should lie."

And that is the type of commitment Stoll aims to achieve.

"The Truman Scholarship opens a lot of doors for me, prestige-wise," Stoll said. She intends to get a doctorate and a master's degree in political science.

Stoll said she hopes to work for the State Department one day, which will bring her closer to her ultimate goal of working for the United Nations.