Student featured in, honored by USA Today
Evans named to 2001 academic team

By Alisha Brown
Staff Reporter

To add to her list of achievements, senior Marshawn Evans was named to the USA Today 2001 All-USA College Academic Team Thursday.

USA Today chose from over 700 applicants across the country and nominated 20 with the honor of being on their first Academic Team. There were also second and honorable mention teams. Along with the recognition, Evans also received a $2,500 cash reward and was featured in USA Today.

The applicants were chosen for their academic achievements and service work.

Evans, a political science major, said she applied because she knew it would bring attention to her work with a program she started, American CAN!, which educates students and community members on how to reduce juvenile crime.

“A lot of people ask why I went into this field since I didn’t go through the system,” she said. “But I didn’t end up there because of parents or role models or social environment. Anybody at TCU could be in the opposite position if they didn’t have those protective measures also.”

Evans’ work has also earned her the Truman Foundation Scholarship from the U.S. Justice Department, the National Youth Network’s Strengthening Across America award and last year Glamour magazine named her to the Top 10 College Women of 2000.

Chancellor Michael Ferrari said Evans has been an academic and leadership asset to the university all along, and this award comes as no surprise to those who know her character.

“To be sure, Marshawn Evans is one of the most gifted students to ever attend TCU,” he said. “Her latest recognition … brings rightful pride to her and her family and to the entire university community. It indicates as well that TCU students can compete with students across the country for the top awards.”

Evans is currently in Washington, D.C., interning with the National Youth Network which is under the U.S. Justice Department, pursuing her political science goals, her mother Mary Evans said.

Joanne Green, an associate professor of political science, said Evans was a diligent student when she was here in Fort Worth also.

“She wasn’t just interested in getting the A — she was interested in mastering and learning the material,” Greene said.

Marshawn Evans said she has always been very goal-oriented and the honor of being named to the Academic Team was a surprise, but not a shock.

“Anytime someone wins something, as someone who has competed for scholarships, performances and class, it’s just an affirmation of your work,” she said. “You go into everything expecting the best. It’s a healthy perspective to want to win, but if you don’t it doesn’t mean you didn’t try your best.”

Marshawn Evans has scored a few more wins recently. She will graduate with honors in May and has been accepted to the law schools at the University of Texas, Southern Methodist University, Northwestern University, the University of California at Berkeley and Georgetown University. But she’s still hoping for the best and waiting to hear from Stanford University, she said.

Alisha Brown
a.k.brown2@student.is.tcu.edu