Fourth-year Engineering student Markus Weisner received the 2005-06 George J. Mitchell scholarship from the U.S.-Ireland Alliance. The scholarship will allow Weisner to obtain a master's degree in fire safety engineering at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
Weisner is one of 12 students from colleges and universities nationwide to receive the award this year and the third consecutive U.Va. student to receive the scholarship since its inception in 1998.
Scholars are chosen based on high standards of leadership and public service set by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, who played a critical role in the efforts to achieve peace in Northern Ireland, said Dell Pendergrast, director of the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program.
"Markus perfectly exemplifies the criteria of a Mitchell Scholar," Pendergrast said. "He has a strong sense of community leadership and public service -- a combination the selection committee greatly admired."
Nicole F. Hurd, assistant dean and director of the Center for Undergraduate Excellence, expressed the same sentiment.
"I think Markus is the example of how U.Va. students can reach into the U.Va. community and make this community a better place," Hurd said.
Weisner said he looks forward to studying abroad.
"I think it's a great honor, and I'm just excited to go to Ireland," said Weisner, who has traveled throughout Europe since childhood but has yet to visit the United Kingdom.
Weisner, who is in his sixth year at the University, has been involved with many activities here, including the McIntire Investment Institute, the motor sports racing team and the crew team, but found his niche with the Charlottesville Volunteer Fire Company.
"I feel like I've gotten an extended U.Va. experience," Weisner said. "The truth is, it took me a long time to figure out what I really wanted to do here."
Weisner also studied at the Universitat Konstanz and interned with DaimlerChrysler in Germany for a year.
"I really wanted to find something that was not only continuous through college but that I could also do after my time here," Weisner said. "As a kid I always liked firefighting so I decided to give it a shot."
Weisner began working with the Charlottesville Volunteer Fire Company during his third year at the University.
"He's well qualified, well educated, and he takes on quite a bit," said Michael Chisholm, fire chief for the Charlottesville Volunteer Fire Company. We're going to miss him when he's gone."
Since joining the fire company, Weisner has started the Association of Student Firefighters, which provides an "opportunity [for firefighters] to get together with other firefighters and talk about issues we were dealing with and balancing that with student obligations," Weisner said.
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