Emilia Murphy
Murray 1693 Scholar
Hometown
Annandale, VA (The Culver Academies)
Academic Interests
International Relations, Public Policy, Computer Science
Why W&M
People talk about the difficulties of applying to college, but they rarely discuss the challenge of choosing one. I imagined that come March, a magic voice - accompanied by rose petals and a string quartet - would tell me where to go. Imagine my panic when I had no idea what my post-high school plans would be by the spring of senior year. I had visited more than 20 schools, but none felt like The One.
Coming to William & Mary for the 1693 Scholars Finalist Weekend brought a sense of clarity. Beyond the activities hosted by the program, I also talked with students in the William & Mary/University of St. Andrews Joint Degree Program. Being able to study international relations in a multinational program excited me. It offered a sense of adventure and a chance to study IR more in-depth. William & Mary also offered proximity to my family. I had spent four years attending a boarding school in Indiana, and I wanted to be closer to home. In the end, though, the people made the difference. The community I found with the 1693 Scholars was unlike any other. Even though we only spent a couple of days together, I felt comfortable with them immediately. Everyone was excited to share the things they were passionate about, and they were just as excited to hear me talk about the things I loved. I left William & Mary wanting more than anything to be a part of that community, knowing that I had found The One.
W&M Activities
- Research Intern with the Project on International Peace and Security (PIPS)
- Associate Editor at the Monitor Journal of International Studies
- VOX Planned Parenthood
- Filipino American Student Association
- Asian Sorority Interest Group
High School Activities
- Captain of varsity soccer team
- Captain of varsity speech team
- Captain of varsity quizbowl
- Editor-in-Chief of student newspaper
- President of Model United Nations
- President of Women in STEM
- Chair of Diversity Council
- Chair of Culver Girls Academy Council
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Awards / Distinctions
- National Merit Scholar
- National AP Scholar with Distinction
- National Security Language Initiative for Youth Virtual Summer Intensive - Mandarin
- Indiana University Honors in Foreign Language – Spanish
- Global Youth Institute Finalist & Borlaug Scholar
- 2022 Northern Indiana National History Day Champion
- Brown University Book Award
- National Spanish Honors Society
- Culver Academies Batten Scholarship
- NIRSEF Notre Dame College of Engineering Dean Award
- NIRSEEF First Place Project, Chemistry
- Indiana Speech First Team All-State, Discussion State Runner-Up
