Michael Pitre, a South Carolina Honors College student and McNair Scholar, has been named a finalist for the 2026 Marshall Scholarship. If selected, Pitre would be the third University of South Carolina student to receive this internationally renowned scholarship and the first since Elizabeth Nyikos in 2009.
The finalist
Pitre is a third-year student earning a customized Baccalaureus Artium et Scientiae-MD (BARSC-MD) degree with a minor in neuroscience. Originally from West Sayville, New York, Pitre is the co-founder and co-president of Gamecock Emergency Medical Students (GEMS), which provides training opportunities for students interested in emergency medicine. GEMS is partnering with Midlands Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to pilot USC’s first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training course.
Pitre researches the neurobiology underlying memory loss with aging and Alzheimer’s disease at the USC School of Medicine Columbia, as well as the effects of exercise on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at the Arnold School of Public Health. This commitment to research earned Pitre the Goldwater Scholarship in 2025. If selected for the Marshall Scholarship, he plans to pursue an MPhil in biological sciences at the University of Cambridge to develop novel treatments for Parkison’s disease before returning to USC for medical school.
What he’s saying
“The application process, particularly through discussions with the USC Marshall committee, helped me narrow down my career interests. I realized that my academic passion lies in the electrical circuitry of the nervous system. Stem cell grafts, which I hope to work on during my Marshall year, aim to fix electrical pathways that are degenerated with disease.”
The opportunity
The Marshall Scholarship provides funding for one to two years of graduate study in the United Kingdom. Established in 1953, the scholarship honors the strong relationship between the United States and United Kingdom. Up to 50 scholars are selected each year based on academic merit, leadership potential and ambassadorial potential.
The process
Pitre will interview for the Marshall Scholarship Nov. 18 in Atlanta. Approximately 150 finalists are invited to regional interviews each year.
The Marshall Scholarship Nomination Committee is comprised of USC faculty: professors Tom Brown (chair), McKinley Blackburn, Melissa Nolan and Doug Thompson.
National Fellowships and Scholar Programs provides support for Marshall Scholarship applicants. Students interested in learning more should contact USC’s national fellowships team.