This story previously appeared in the March 9^th edition of the Emory Report, written by Beverely Cox.

Emory University will send four outstanding graduating seniors to Scotland for additional study next fall through the elite Robert T. Jones Jr. Scholarship program.

Emory College of Arts and Sciences seniors Claire Burkhardt, Josh Grand, Asmita Lehther and Yurok Song will complete a year of study at the University of St Andrews in honor of the legendary amateur golfer and scholar who attended Emory School of Law.

Known as the Bobby Jones Scholars, more than 400 exceptional students have participated in the program since it began in 1976. The program will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027 with a three-day reunion in Atlanta for alumni and supporters. This milestone event will honor the program's remarkable legacy and showcase the achievements, stories and impact of generations of scholars.

An Emory committee selects recipients based on academic excellence, exemplary character and integrity. This year's cohort was drawn from 36 applicants of the highest caliber, says Joanne Brzinski, director of the Bobby Jones Program and senior associate dean for Emory College of Arts and Sciences.

"Each year, selecting the scholars is a difficult decision, and this year's pool of applicants was beyond exceptional," Brzinski says. "The 2026 Bobby Jones Scholars truly represent the very best of qualities of our students, with outstanding academic accomplishments across our liberal arts curriculum, work in our community that has made an impact that will be felt long after they've graduated and a demonstrated commitment to make a positive impact on the world."

Although students may take courses without seeking a degree, all four of this year's Bobby Jones scholars plan to pursue master's degrees at St Andrews that build on their Emory research, coursework and community engagement. Their diverse areas of study include public health policy, international relations and diplomacy, mathematical biology and international security studies.

For Grand, he has been a star in the classroom and on the pitch as captain of Emory's soccer team the last two years, with his time at Emory centered around rigorous core liberal arts coursework, leadership of his team and a commitment to foster civil dialogue on campus. 

Last fall, the Sonny Carter Scholar helped lead the Emory soccer team to its second consecutive University Athletic Association championship — the first back-to-back championships in program history.

In addition to leadership in his beloved sport and with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, he is a Benjamin Franklin Fellow in Democracy and Citizenship and a Robson Fellow for Business, Public Policy and Government, the only non-business student in the program. He also studied abroad in Argentina and the Netherlands.

Grand has applied his interests in international affairs by serving as a European policy intern with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and by working to help bring the World Cup to Atlanta this year as an intern in the Atlanta mayor's office.

During his sophomore year, Grand partnered with a roommate to found and lead the Emory chapter of the John Quincy Adams Society to encourage nuanced political debate among their classmates while promoting the value of liberal arts education and civil dialogue. He also launched a program to educate students on conflict in the Middle East as president of the MEOR Jewish Athletes.  

Grand, who is double majoring in international studies and philosophy, politics and law, is completing an honors thesis in philosophy examining the moral and national responsibility for U.S. foreign aid. He plans to pursue a master's degree in public policy at St Andrews with an eye toward a career in U.S. foreign policy and public service (while hopefully continuing to play elite-level soccer).