Points of Pride
McConnell Scholars serve in top leadership positions on campus and go on to win prestigious campus, national, and international awards and scholarships.
Sidebar
McConnell Scholar Achievements and Honors
McConnell Scholars are governed by a leadership council. The first formal McConnell Scholar council formed in December 1994. Positions are elected by the McConnell Scholar body.
Current Leadership Council
- Chair: Kara Beth Poe '27
- Vice Chair: Leo Tobbe '27
- Secretary: Grace Fields '28
- Outreach Chair: Seth Pinson '27
- Service Chair: Harper Hall '28
- Alumni Relations: Riley Maddox '28
- Health and Wellness: Clara Heberling '28
- Additional Voting Member: Ozy Anyanwu '28
- Freshman Representative
Previous McConnell Scholar Council Chairs:
- Kara Beth Poe, 2025-2026
- Camryn McPherson, 2024-2025
- Caleb Aridano, 2023-2024
- Tanner Morrow, 2022-2023
- Alli Wade, 2020-2022
- Eric Bush, 2019-2020
- Easton Depp, 2018-2019
- Robert Gassman, 2017-2018
- Jacob Abrahamson, 2016-2017
- Natalie Smith, 2015-2016
- Sean Southard, 2014-2015
- Sarah Stovall, 2013-2014
- Tyler Bosley, 2012-2013
- John Weber, 2011-2012
- Mary Kate "MK" Lindsey, 2010-2011
- Kirk Laughlin, 2009-2010
- Derek Jones, 2008-2009
- Anthony Cash, 2007-2008
- Evan Buckley, 2006-2007
- Ben Moore, 2005-2006
- Mary Scott Roberts, 2004-2005
- Jonathan Ballard, 2003-2004
- Todd Shuemaker, 2002-2003
- Chris Atzinger, 2001-2002
- Erin Simpson, 2000-2001
- Scott Jennings, 1999-2000
- Christy Trout, 1998-1999
- Chris Stephens, 1997-1998
- Rachelle Thomas, 1996-1997
- Matthew Webster, 1995-1996
The McConnell Center's moot court program is limited to undergraduate McConnell Scholars at the University of Louisville. The team has enjoyed continued success at regional and national levels as part of the American Moot Court Association and is consistently ranked as a top-25 program in the country. Under the direction of McConnell Scholar alumnus Sean Williamson '11, students engage theoretical and legal constructs in simulated appellate court cases. Students spend the fall semester researching, writing and practicing their oral arguments.
Ten McConnell Scholars have been elected by their peers to serve as president of the UofL Student Government.
- Macy Waddle, 2025-2026
- Allie Rose Phillips, 2024-2025
- Katie Hayden, 2023-2024
- Jasper Noble, 2019-2020
- Aaron Vance, 2016-2017
- Victoria Allen, 2015-2016
- Justin Brandt, 2012-2013
- Kurtis Frizzell, 2011-2012
- Rudy Spencer, 2008-2009
- William "Bill" Brammell, 2005-2006
Eleven McConnell Scholars have been awarded UofL's prestigious Cardinal Award, given to outstanding seniors for academic excellence and leadership:
- 2026: Macy Waddle
- 2024: Katie Hayden
- 2017: Jason Jewell
- 2016: Kevin Grout
- 2013: Max Morley
- 2010: Robert Works
- 2008: Toree Edwards
- 2003: John Daniel
- 2002: Shannon Rickett
- 1998: Holli Norton
- 1997: Shauna Cole
Critical Language Scholarship
- Evan Clark, 2020, Russia
- Gzeonie Hampton, 2019, Oman
- Natasha Mundkur, 2018, India
- Anna Cecile Pepper, 2016, Oman
- Jeremy Ball, 2016, Oman
- Paige Brewer, 2015, Russia
English Speaking Union Scholarship
- Will Randolph, 2021, Edinburgh
Etscorn International Summer Research Award
- Macey Mayes, 2017, Thailand
- Miranda Mason, 2016, Athens
- Philip Moore, 2015, Cuba
Postgraduate Success
- Piper Coleman, 2025 Fulbright ETA, Taiwan
- Lauren Reuss, 2022 Fulbright ETA, Thailand
- Claire Gothard, 2021 Fulbright ETA, Morroco
- Evan Clark, 2020 Fulbright ETA, Spain
- Jared Thomas, 2020 Fulbright ETA, Malaysia
- Macey Mayes, 2019 Fulbright ETA, Malaysia
- Natasha Mundkur, 2019 Fulbright ETA, India
- Kyle Hilbrecht, 2018 Fulbright ETA, Laos
- Christian Bush, 2018 Fulbright ETA, Macau
- Robert Gassman, 2018 Fulbright ETA, Taiwan
- Jeremy Ball, 2017 Fulbright ETA, Malaysia
- Chloe Zoeller, 2016 Fulbright ETA, Colombia
- Paige Brewer, 2015 Fulbright ETA, Kazakhstan
- Danielle Robinette, 2014 Fulbright ETA, Ecuador
- Meagan Floyd, 2012 Fulbright ETA, Malaysia
- Chelsey Hall, 2010 Fulbright ETA, Macau
- Charles Helms, 2010 Fulbright ETA, Kosovo
- Robert Works, 2010 Fulbright Research, Colombia
- Jamie Giles, 2009 Fulbright ETA, Thailand
- Tejas Shastry, 2009 Fulbright ETA, Sri Lanka
- Boris Yelin, 2009 Fulbright ETA, Argentina
- GlyptusAnn Grider, 2007 Fulbright ETA, S. Korea
- Chris Kenner, 2003 Fulbright ETA, Germany
- Hannah Wilson, 2016
- Evan Shepherd, 2013
- Elizabeth Sawyer, 2003
- Meagan Floyd, 2020 Award to pursue a degree in politics of conflict, rights and justice at SOAS University of London
- Charles Helms, 2014 Award to pursue a master's degree from the University of Oxford
- Robert Works, 2012 Award to pursue a master's degree of philosophy in Latin American Studies at St. John's College at the University of Cambridge
- Yelena Bagdasaryan, 2024, Prague, Czechia
- Isabella Martin, 2021, Estonia
- Celia Cusick, 2020, Croatia
- Ronica Hutchison, 2018, Mozambique
- Macey Mayes, 2018, Indonesia
- Hunter Davis, 2011, New Zealand
- Robert Works, 2010, Mexico