The scholarships, awarded by the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation of Dallas, are awarded in the sophomore year and are good for the junior and senior years. Each recipient receives $5,000 per semester, or $10,000 per year, plus access to a variety of educational and internship opportunities.

Students majoring in areas such as political science, history, pre-law and education are selected for the scholarships based on their academic history, extracurricular activities, and leadership experience. Selection includes an interview with the trustees of the Sumners Foundation, created in 1949 by former Congressman Hatton W. Sumners (1875-1962).

The following students have been named Sumners Scholars for 2017-2019: Natalie DeCesare, Camille Martin, Conner Joyce, and Danyale Kellogg. DeCesare and Martin are both political science majors, Joyce is a political science and philosophy dual major, and Kellogg is a history major.

Director of National Fellowships and Scholarships and Professor of English David Gaines, says, “For years the Sumners Foundation has provided Southwestern students with transformative experiences and support. They have an uncanny knack for finding some of our highest achieving and most civically engaged students. It’s exhilarating to play a small part in a program that is so beneficial to both our students and the world beyond Southwestern.”

In addition to assistance with tuition, students selected to receive Sumners Scholarships have access to other programs sponsored by the foundation, including a distinguished lecture series; a variety of public policy, leadership and civic participation programs; and several educational and internship opportunities in Washington, D.C.