Baylor resources and professors the keys for University Scholar’s early success in academia

By the year’s end, Stephen Margheim will have presented eight conference papers on a variety of topics — a feat that would be impressive for even most tenured faculty. But the Alexandria, La., native doesn’t have tenure; in fact, he’s not even a professor. He’s a junior at Baylor.

A National Merit Finalist in high school, Margheim was drawn to Baylor by the University Scholars program, which lets students (with the help of a mentor) draw up their own course of study. “What I really wanted were the resources of a large research university combined with the interactions between students and professors of a smaller liberal arts university,” he says. “Baylor has been really great in that respect.”

Concentrating on classics and philosophy, Margheim’s papers have taken him all over the country as he has presented his work (or will present this spring) at conferences hosted by such universities as Cornell, Pepperdine and Yale. He credits his Baylor professors for helping him improve his work, particularly his writing. “Tons of Baylor professors are willing and able, but you have to seek them out and tell them you are interested,” he says.

Sic ’em, Stephen!