The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) announced 38 exceptional sophomore and junior students as the new Burchard Scholars for 2020.

The selective Burchard Scholars program, named in honor of John Ely Burchard, the first dean of SHASS, recognizes sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated outstanding abilities and academic excellence in some aspect of the humanistic fields — the humanities, arts, and social sciences — as well as in STEM fields.

Over one calendar year, from February to December, the Burchards attend a series of dinner-seminars with distinguished MIT faculty, as well as cultural events in the Boston, Massachusetts, metropolitan area. The experiences provide a challenging, intellectual space in which the scholars further expand their intellectual horizons.

Excellence in both the humanistic and STEM fields

“The Burchard Scholars are an extraordinary group of MIT undergraduates who have demonstrated enthusiasm and aptitude for the humanities, social sciences, or arts,” says Margery Resnick, professor of literature and director of the Burchard program. “Selection is competitive, and the students who are chosen are thoughtful, smart, and grateful for the opportunity to discuss ideas with faculty and fellow students.”

The scholars themselves represent a diverse swath of studies across the Institute. This year, the Burchards come from over a dozen different fields of study, among them biology, anthropology, mechanical engineering, management, and music. What binds the group together is a powerful curiosity about ideas. This year’s selection process was especially competitive, with 100 applicants vying for a spot.

Developing powerful skills

The Burchard Scholars program is designed to provide promising students a challenging and friendly arena in which to develop and hone skills in expressing, critiquing, and debating ideas with peers and mentors. The scholars learn respectful and adaptable approaches for engaging in complex intellectual discussions.

Many of the MIT students who receive Rhodes, Marshall, and other major scholarships and fellowships are former Burchard Scholars. Most recently, senior Steven Truong, a 2019 Burchard Scholar, was awarded a Marshall Scholarship.

The 2020 Burchard Scholars are:

Paolo Adajar, junior in mathematical economics, computer science, and public policy

Ifeoluwapo Ademolu-Odeneye, sophomore in mathematics with computer science

Boluwatife Akinola, junior in mathematical economics

Anna Aldins, sophomore in music and theater arts

Isabel Barnet, sophomore in mechanical engineering

Israel Bonilla, junior in aeronautics and astronautics

Owen Broderick, junior in management

Kevin Costello, junior in mathematics and music

Hope Dargan, junior in computer science and engineering, and in history

Nadezhda Dimitrova, junior in aeronautics and astronautics

Jade Fischer, junior in earth, atmosphere, and planetary sciences

Rogerio Guimarae Jr., junior in electrical engineering and computer science

Madeline Holtz, sophomore in chemistry

Lily Huo, junior in biological engineering

Aditya Jog, junior in biology

Shuli Jones, sophomore in computer science and engineering

Melissa Klein, junior in mechanical engineering, and in music and theater arts

Maximillian Langenkamp, junior in electrical engineering and computer science

Keiran Lewellen, sophomore in physics

Bhavik Nagda, junior in computer science and engineering

Neosha Narayanan, sophomore in materials science and engineering

Avery Nguyen, sophomore in materials science and engineering

Samuel Nitz, junior in computer science, and in molecular biology

Isloma Osubor, junior in mechanical engineering and management

Noopur Ranganathan, junior in anthropology, and in biology

James Santoro, sophomore in management

Haniya Shareef, sophomore in biological engineering

Aaditya Singh, junior in brain and cognitive science, and in computer science and engineering

Nailah Smith, sophomore in electrical engineering and computer science

Madison Sneve, sophomore in biology

Edwin Song, sophomore in mathematical economics

Sarah Spector, junior in electrical engineering and computer science, and in Latin American and Latino/a studies

Shobhita Sundaram, sophomore in electrical engineering and computer science

Sarah Weidman, junior in earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, and in physics

Alyssa Wells-Lewis, junior in mechanical engineering

Kevin Wesel, junior in biology

Carine You, sophomore in electrical engineering and computer science