McLarty Scholars has announced Christine McCall and Marina Giannirakis as the new recipients of its 2018 scholarships. McCall, a graduate of Boston University, and Giannirakis, who attended John Carroll University, will join 2017 scholar Yvonne Quek to round out the 2018 class.
During their semester-long fellowships at Vital Voices Global Partnership in Washington, D.C. McCall and Giannirakis will conduct research and present an impact evaluation on Vital Voices’ network of women leaders in the VVGROW and Global Freedom Exchange programs. Quek’s year-long fellowship at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) is focusing on researching issues related to the economic empowerment of women and the impact of climate change on women.
“Yvonne, Marina and Christine continue the tradition of accomplished and engaged graduate students from the Clinton School of Public Service who have participated in our Scholars program,” said Donna McLarty, co-founder of McLarty Scholars and co-founder of Vital Voices. “These women are true leaders who are passionately committed to both public service and women’s empowerment on their campuses, in their communities and on their international projects.”
A second-year graduate student at the Clinton School of Public Service, McCall received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. She has worked as a general assignment reporter for The Boston Globe, Bay State Banner and The Newport Daily News. Most recently, she worked as a grant writer at Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago, Ill. McCall also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kyrgyzstan for two years and an AmeriCorps Volunteer at Cradles to Crayons in Boston, Mass. Her areas of public service interest include women’s empowerment, higher education and access to health care. This summer she will be working with Wesley College in Mwanza, Tanzania on program design and implementation of a servant leadership curriculum.
Giannirakis earned her degree in sociology and criminology from John Carroll University with a minor in entrepreneurship. She interned with the Legal Aid of Arkansas and American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration. Additionally, she acquired volunteer experience at a juvenile detention center in Cleveland, Ohio. She is focused on public service, including immigrant and refugee rights, criminal justice system reform and women’s rights. This summer she will be working with The Asia Foundation in Hanoi, Vietnam, focusing on the protection of the rights of overseas migrant workers. Additionally, she will be working on a research report on women-led small and medium enterprise in Vietnam.
Quek, a graduate of the Clinton School who was born and raised in Singapore, is a repeat McLarty Scholar, having been a recipient in 2016 and 2017. She is currently conducting her research at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security on women’s economic empowerment in fragile and conflict-affected countries. Quek will attend the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University this fall, and her continued work at GIWPS will benefit from her ability to leverage an increased economic acumen. Quek had previously studied at the Clinton School, where she conducted field work on food insecurity with the Arkansas Food Bank and analyzed the social return of investment of a social enterprise empowering rural artisan women in Peru. She has also worked as a corporate attorney in Singapore and assisted with fundraising for Saigon’s Children Charity in Ho Chi Minh City while receiving her law degree from the National University of Singapore.
McLarty Scholars was established in 2011 by Donna and Mack McLarty and their sons Mark and Franklin, daughter-in-law Gabriella and granddaughter Brianna. This prestigious program provides students with substantive opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, research, international experience and cross cultural understanding.
“Gaining a world-perspective is one of the most valuable gifts to give a student,” said Mack McLarty. “We are very proud that McLarty Scholars continues to connect students studying in Arkansas with the professional and public service endeavors in Washington, D.C. and globally.”
The class of 2018 is the fifth class of McLarty Scholars, joining a list of accomplished graduates of the program who are making an impact on organizations around the globe. Past scholars include Anna Applebaum of California, Tshering Yudon of Bhutan, Mara D’Amico of Michigan, Jennifer Guzman of Arkansas, Michelle Perez of Venezuela and Arjola Limani of Albania, Mollie Henager and Emily Smith both of Arkansas.
For more information about the McLarty Scholars program visit McLartyScholars.com.
Responses