3 Princeton Scholars Win Full Oxford Scholarships

Three Princeton University students are heading to Oxford with scholarships that celebrate their dedication to learning and truth-seeking.

Seniors Zach Gardner and Joe Silva, along with 2025 graduate Helena Drake, received the John and Daria Barry Scholarship for study at the University of Oxford. Established in 2019, the award provides full funding for at least two years, including tuition, living expenses, and yearly stipends for research and travel.

Drake, who studied comparative literature with a focus on French and Russian languages, spent this year helping develop academic programs at Notre Dame before starting her graduate work. Her senior thesis on identity in medieval French literature won the André Maman prize at Princeton.

"Oxford has one of the largest forums in the world for studying the Middle Ages," Drake said. "I am very excited to join their scholarly community this fall." After Oxford, she'll return to Princeton as a Ph.D. candidate in French and Italian.

Gardner, a politics major focused on American institutions, looks forward to more than just academics. "I believe that places teach you things, and I am excited for the lessons that the town and surrounding areas have in store," he said.

His senior thesis explores the history and theory of presidential pardon power. The former publisher of the Princeton Tory and president of multiple student organizations, Gardner plans to pursue law or public service while keeping writing central to his career.

Silva studied history with a minor in Hellenic studies, focusing his senior thesis on how medieval Byzantium received the work of St. Thomas Aquinas. He researched a monk who translated Aquinas from Latin to Greek and wrote theological treatises using Thomistic methods.

Beyond his academic work in Latin and multiple forms of Greek, Silva served as co-president of the Aquinas Institute and played rugby. He's considering pursuing either a law degree or Ph.D. after Oxford.

Why This Inspires

These three scholars show how young people are diving deep into understanding history, language, and ideas that shape our world. They're not just studying for career advancement but genuinely pursuing truth and knowledge across centuries of human thought.

Their commitment to both academic excellence and serving their communities reminds us that learning and compassion go hand in hand.