Emory University senior swimmer Joel Dobben was selected as one of four seniors at the school to receive the Robert T. Jones Jr. Scholarship Award for a year of study at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Widely known as the Bobby Jones Scholarship, the award was established in 1976 and recognizes individuals who will be excellent representatives of Emory at St. Andrews. Qualities required to fulfill this ambassadorship include intellectual excellence, a record of significant leadership and academic interests that can be pursued through the offerings at St. Andrews. The scholars receive full tuition and a travel stipend for their year of study. In addition, four St. Andrews students are chosen to spend a year at Emory.
Dobben, a four-year member of the Emory swimming and diving team, won the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship as part of the Eagles' 800-yard freestyle relay team in 2011. This season, the freestyle specialist has recorded a career-best time of 22.96 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle, in addition to marks of 49.77 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle and 1:47.91 in the 200-yard freestyle.
An English major with an interest in Renaissance literature, Dobben has compiled a 3.727 grade point average during his time at Emory. He has earned a spot on the UAA All-Academic list all three of his eligible seasons, and was named an honorable mention to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar all-America team in 2011.
The Flossmoor, IL native and graduate from Homewood-Flossmoor High School also works as a fellow for the Emory Office of Admissions and is a staff writer for the Emory Wheel.
"I am thrilled that Joel Dobben was selected as a Bobby Jones Scholar," said Emory head swimming and diving coach Jon Howell. "Joel is the perfect fit for this opportunity. He is a wonderful ambassador for Emory University, and his pure enthusiasm for learning will serve him well in the St. Andrews community."
Also receiving one of the four scholarships was former Eagle Sarah Richards, a current graduate student with a Masters degree in film studies. Majoring in sociology with a minor in German studies, Richards played for the Emory soccer and basketball team during her undergraduate career. After teaching English in Austria, Richards came back to Emory this fall and began working at Emory's Writing Center. She plans to get a master's from St. Andrews in German.
The scholarship recipients are selected via a two-stage process, which includes a written application portion and multiple interviews. Finalists are determined through a committee of Emory faculty and staff who review the applicants. Later, applicants are interviewed by a broader committee formed from alumni, Board of Trustees members, Emory administrators and members of Emory's development staff.