VILLANOVA, PA — In an exceptional achievement, Villanova University Presidential Scholar Gina Ngo ’24 CLAS has been named a recipient of the 2024 Marshall Scholarship. A senior from Havertown, Pa., Ngo is the third Villanovan to receive this distinguished award and the first since 2015.
The Marshall Scholarship will support Ngo’s pursuit of postgraduate studies in Medical Sciences (Oncology) at the University of Cambridge and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Upon completing these programs, Ngo plans to further her education with an MD/PhD and practice as a physician-scientist.
Announced by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, the scholarship is awarded annually to fewer than 50 Americans, selected from nearly 1,200 nominated students. The Marshall Scholarship program, established by an Act of British Parliament in 1953, is one of the world’s most prestigious scholarships. It was created to thank the U.S. for its assistance under the Marshall Plan, spearheaded by former U.S. Secretary of State Gen. George Marshall.
University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, expressed his congratulations to Ngo. “Gina’s dedication to academic excellence and to making a positive impact are inspiring and truly embody our Augustinian Catholic mission. This prestigious recognition is a testament to her hard work and commitment.”
Ngo, a 2023 Goldwater Scholar, studies Biology, Peace and Justice, and Chinese Language and Cultural Studies in the University’s Honors Program. She has conducted significant research on a potential immune checkpoint that can affect tumor treatment. Ngo has also shown leadership and advocacy through her volunteer work with Philadelphia’s Nationalities Service Center, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and the Honors Program.
Ngo’s career aspiration is to practice as a physician-scientist and neuro-oncologist, aiming to provide medical expertise to individuals who may otherwise not have access to lifesaving care. Her priorities lie in collaborating with cancer researchers across the globe to advance access to effective brain cancer treatments.
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