Mercer Times

Senior Shane Patrick has been awarded the John and Daria Barry Scholarship for study at the University of Oxford. The scholarship, established in 2019, "is awarded to the leading students of the United States of America in recognition of their dedication to the pursuit of truth," as stated by the Barry Scholars announcement.

Patrick, a Near Eastern studies major, will pursue an MPhil in Islamic Studies and history at Oxford. Reflecting on this opportunity, he expressed his enthusiasm by saying, "I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue developing as a scholar of the Medieval Middle East under the direction of some of the most respected scholars in the field."

In addition to his academic achievements, Patrick has been actively involved in various extracurricular activities at Princeton University. He received the Department of Near Eastern Studies' Prize for Best Junior Paper and is currently working on his senior thesis focusing on an 18th-century Lebanese Christian legal text. Patrick's academic pursuits are not limited to his major, as he is also pursuing certificates in Ancient Roman language and literature, Arabic language and literature, Hellenic studies, and medieval studies.

Patrick has a diverse range of experiences, including being a correspondent in Princeton's Office of Undergraduate Research, a numismatics research assistant in Princeton Library's Special Collections, and an undergraduate fellow of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. He has also been involved with the Aquinas Institute, Princeton's Catholic campus ministry, and has served as a legislative intern in Washington, D.C.

Looking towards the future, Patrick aims to pursue a Ph.D. and become a professor and scholar specializing in historic Christian-Muslim relations.