By Sarah Geegan, Jonathan Spalding
With the incredible success the Division of Classics in the College of Arts and Sciences has demonstrated in the last decade, it is no surprise that recently two of its students, Lisa Jagoda and Claire Heitzman, have been awarded the Otis Singletary Fellowship as they prepare for graduate school in the fall.
The fellowship is a one-time scholarship awarded to graduating seniors who are continuing their post-baccalaureate education at UK. Paralleling the growth of the classics program, awards such as these contribute to the continued success in attracting some of the best students from around the world, and especially in keeping the ones who already call the classics program home.
In May, Jagoda will earn a B.A. in classics and anthropology. After graduation, she will prepare to enter the UK master's program in classics.
“The Singletary Fellowship will allow me to focus on my studies without having to get a job or take out hefty loans to cover expenses,” Jagoda said. “Throughout my undergraduate career, my education has always been the most important aspect of my life, so I’m glad that my hard work has paid off and given me ease of mind going into next year.”
Along with helping pay for grad school, the fellowship will also allow Lisa to travel to Europe this summer to see first-hand the cultures she has been studying throughout her undergraduate career.
With a B.A. in classics, Heitzman will also graduate in May. She will attend graduate school in the fall to earn a master's degree in classics and a master's in teaching world languages for Latin.
“Because of the fellowship, I will enter grad school knowing that the hard work as an undergraduate has truly contributed to the university’s dream of being one of the top research institutions in the state and country,” Heitzman said.
It is because of this financial assistance that Heitzman plans to earn two degrees in two years and will gain her teaching certification for the state of Kentucky.
“I want to be a high school Latin teacher and would love to stay in the state if possible,” Heitzman said.
Jane Phillips, UK professor in the Department of Modern & Classical Languages and Literatures & Culture, has had the privilege of teaching both students in graduate level courses.
“I thought the two were both excellent in their own different ways,” Phillips said. “They are two very talented students from good Kentucky high school backgrounds, and now they are going to continue their excellence here as graduate students.”