An ACU senior was awarded the Marshall Scholarship last semester, one of the nation’s most prestigious academic honors.

Brittany Partridge, political science major from Annandale, Minn., was awarded a two-year scholarship with intent to study International Foreign Policy and Countering Organized Crime and Terrorism at University College in London. She graduated from ACU in December.

The Marshall Scholarship enables American students to study in the United Kingdom. According to the Marshall Scholarship website, up to 40 scholarships are awarded each year. The scholarship covers university fees, living expenses, an annual book grant, thesis grant and research grants.

The Marshall is one of the most elite undergrad scholarships for students who wish to pursue grad work. Universities around the country nominate one student per institution for the Marshall. Among this year’s 981 applicants, only 36 of those nominated – fewer than 4 percent – were selected for recognition.

“A lot of students that win these are Ivy League students, and you don’t really see students coming from outside of that, so I think it speaks highly to the university and for students it is a phenomenal opportunity,” Partridge said.

Partridge has big plans for the upcoming year. She is volunteering for three months at a Christian youth hostel in Amsterdam. She will also spend the month of April interning for the International Forum of Solidarity, “Emmaus” in Bosnia, doing anti-trafficking work. She will spend the summer in Washington, D.C., interning and participating in the Harry S. Truman Foundation’s Summer Institute for Truman Scholars.

Partridge may be most recognized around the ACU campus for her work in co-founding the Red Thread Movement, a non-profit organization that works to generate awareness of human trafficking, forced labor and sexual slavery and to raise financial support to end those issues. Her passion for helping end human trafficking has influenced and reinforced her aspirations for public service.

“Nothing’s official yet, but ideally I want to apply to Georgetown’s law program and afterward work for the Department of Justice or Department of State on the issue of human trafficking,” Partridge said.

Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the Department of Political Science, said Partridge work is recognized by her professors and the department.

“For Brittany, this is one of the highest honors she will receive in her life and confirmation that her work for the Red Thread Movement is honorable” Coates said.