The University of Utah connects students to incredible research opportunities, classes and faculty – three things that, if managed well, can lead a student to great success. Such is the case of Mackenzie Simper, the U’s first Churchill Scholar.
Last year, only 15 graduating bachelor’s degree students were named Churchill Scholars, a title awarded for exceptional academic achievement, potential in research and outstanding personal qualities. Honorees were awarded a full scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Cambridge, with funds for housing and a stipend for the student.
“It is an honor to receive such a prestigious reward and I’m excited to get started with my studies,” Simper stated.
Simper was awarded the Churchill Scholarship in 2016, upon completion of her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. When she first started at the U, she planned on double majoring in math and biology, then continuing on to medical school. She soon realized that the mathematics classes intrigued her more, however, and that research was a strong passion of hers.
While attending the U, Simper conducted research in the field of probability. Her first projects were completed with Assistant Professor of Mathematics Tom Alberts. Together they studied the stochastic heat equation on Markov chains and worked on a biological model called Bak-Sneppen. Simper published multiple research articles by her graduation.
Alberts claims Simper was an exceptional student, who quickly understood difficult concepts. “She also worked very, very hard and wouldn’t rest until she felt she had fully tackled a problem,” he said.
Before she heard about the Churchill Scholarship, Simper was interested in a master’s programs at Cambridge. “I researched it online and got really excited, but when I saw that there wasn’t much funding for American students I put the idea out of my mind,” she recalled. In her later years at the U, academic advisors explained the Churchill Scholarship to Simper and worked to endorse her, a privilege given to only two University of Utah students each year.
Simper’s application to the program involved writing two personal statements, submitting letters of recommendation and being interviewed. Simper was at a math conference when she found out she would be attending Cambridge as a Churchill Scholar. Even when she returned to the U, there was a period that she was not allowed to tell her professors the good news.
“I was consistently amazed by the support I received from my professors and I know that it’s really thanks to their encouragement that I made it to where I am,” Simper said.
During her undergraduate years, Simper received multiple awards and honors. Among these was the Alice T. Schafer Prize for Undergraduate Excellence in Mathematics, a national prize awarded by the Association for Women in Math.
Simper arrived in the UK earlier this month and has been exploring the area before the nine-month program to earn her Master of Advanced Study in Pure Mathematics begins. After this, Simper will attend Stanford University to earn her PhD. She aims to become a mathematics professor so that she can be involved in both teaching and research.
@karissawang