Tina Marshalek is on a remarkable educational journey.
The former liberal arts transfer student was homeschooled from Kindergarten through high school. She had never learned in a physical classroom until she began attending Madison College.
In spring 2020, she was awarded one of the most prestigious scholarships offered in the United States, the Harry Truman Scholarship. The application process is a rigorous one, and the selection process is highly competitive.
As part of several rounds of nomination, Marshalek had to supply a letter of nomination from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she transferred in 2019. She also had to write seven essays, gather six additional letters of support, craft a policy proposal and be interviewed.
While attending Madison College, Marshalek served as Student Senate president. In her term, she drove initiatives to address student food insecurity and establish a textbook rental program. She was a positive force on campus while working and going to school full time, and graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.
Marshalek credits Madison College with helping her discover her leadership abilities.
“Madison College was awesome, and helped prepare me for my future. I gained confidence and realized I could be a successful college student.”
As a Truman Scholar, Marshalek will receive a $30,000 scholarship toward graduate school and will be able to participate in professional development programs. Her goal is to help create a better system for home-schooled students across the country.