Michael (Mike) Tarrant, a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been awarded a 2008 Luce Scholarship to live and learn in Asia – one of 18 scholarships awarded nationwide.
UNC ranks second only to Harvard in producing Luce Scholars. Including Tarrant, 27 UNC students and alumni have won the Luce since the program began in 1974. Harvard has had 28 Luce Scholars.
A double major in political science and communication studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, Tarrant is student body vice president.
The Henry Luce Foundation provides the scholarships for a year’s internship in Asia, with the goal of acquainting future American leaders with Asian colleagues in their fields. Candidates must have no prior experience with Asia.
Winners are chosen for outstanding academic achievement and leadership ability. This year, 67 colleges and universities nationwide nominated 103 candidates for the Luce. The scholars will find out their specific assignments by June and will spend part of the summer in language study to prepare for their time in Asia.
Tarrant, the son of William and Christine Tarrant of Raleigh, graduated from Sanderson High School, where he was student body president. He plans to plans to pursue graduate degrees in public administration or public policy and higher education administration.
“I intend to dedicate my life to ensuring that higher education continues to be ‘the mind in service to society,’” Tarrant said. “Since 1795, UNC has served as the backbone of the state, not only in education, but as an economic driver and public servant. (As a Luce Scholar,) I hope to have the opportunity to learn and exchange different ideas, strategies and education policies that will better prepare students.”
He said he will seek understanding of how nations in the Far East educate their next generation of leaders so that someday he may be able to help shape a public university whose benefits extend to all those who deserve and require a world-class education.
Tarrant, an honors student, received the 2007 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship at UNC. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Lambda Pi Eta – the national honorary society for communication studies – and Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honorary society for political science.
Tarrant’s pursuit of a career in higher education led to an internship in his sophomore year in the UNC General Administration’s federal relations office, which evolved into a part-time job for two years.
For one assignment, he played a key role in developing a federal strategy to secure recurring funding for the Southeast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Partnership, an oceanic observation network capable of predicting maritime conditions critical to public safety, environmental management and protection of the nation’s economy.
Tarrant helped organize a briefing for Congressional staff in Washington, D.C., where he explained the significant economic impact the partnership would have on the state. He also participated in meetings with officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to stress the importance of an ocean-observing system of this magnitude.
Tarrant’s involvement in marine science advocacy at the federal level helped advance the 17-campus University of North Carolina and its marine science programs with decision makers in Washington.
“Mike Tarrant has already made himself an authority on the administration of higher education, both in his work with President (Erskine) Bowles in General Administration and through UNC’s student government,” said George Lensing, Ph.D., director of the UNC Office of Distinguished Scholarships. “He is passionately committed to making our University administrative structures work better for the needs and changes that lie ahead in the 21st century.”
Commenting on his experience, Tarrant noted, “I’ve learned that universities cannot be content with being ‘ivory towers,’ but must assume a larger role as economic drivers in their communities.”
Note: Tarrant can be reached at tarrant2@email.unc.edu
Office of Distinguished Scholarships contacts: Dr. George Lensing, (919) 843-7764, (919) 962-4053, lensing@email.unc.edu
UNC Luce Scholarship contact: Raymond B. Farrow III, (919) 843-7553, raymond.farrow@unc.edu
News Services contact: L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589