April 23, 2012

  Class of 2012 Smith Scholar Anna Van Hollen
by John Syme

Damascus, Syria. Summer 2010.

"Why do Americans hate Islam?" a young Syrian girl asked Anna Van Hollen '12.

"In the background, the Umayyad Mosque muezzin begins his call to prayer," Van Hollen wrote later in an essay. "I want to reassure this girl that not all Americans believe her religion is evil, but I fear that such a simple answer risks further misunderstanding."

The essay was part of Van Hollen's winning application for the prestigious W. Thomas Smith Scholarship at Davidson College. Established by Tom Smith, a 1948 alumnus from Greenville, S.C., the scholarship is awarded annually to one exceptional senior at Davidson who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to community service. The award provides for study at a major university outside of the United States. Read more.