FOR RELEASE: Sept. 17, 1998

CONTACT:

Betsy Lawson (781) 283-2421 elawson@wellesley.edu

WELLESLEY, Mass.--Chosen from a group of more than 1,000 outstanding young applicants from all across America, Wellesley College senior Jocelyn Benson has been selected as one of Glamour magazine's Top Ten College Women for 1998. Benson was selected for her outstanding scholastic and personal achievements as well as her contributions to her school and community.

She joins a highly diverse group of winners ranging from an aspiring astronaut to an economics major pursuing a career as a policy maker for the World Bank.

Majoring in political science, Benson plans a career dedicated to ensuring equal access to education, housing and health care for all citizens. Equal opportunities for women and minorities are issues of special importance to her. Last year, she founded the Women in American Political Activism Conference at Wellesley, which attracted 300 participants to its debut, including AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson.

This summer Benson co-authored a book chapter, "California's 46th District: The Sanchez-Dornan Rematch" that will appear in The Road to Congress 1998, to be published in 1999.

Benson wrote in her application essay:

"I have searched for and found ways to encourage political activism among minority groups. Each effort has stemmed from my belief that the minorities of America are the majority-be us old, young, Black, Hispanic, female, or disabled.

Our government must not only be receptive to that--it must reflect that. If I can use my life to bring us one step closer to that reality, then it has been a success."

All of the winners are profiled in the magazine's October 1998 issue.

The competition is open to any woman who is a junior at an accredited college in the United States. Applicants submit an academic transcript, letters of recommendation, a list of school and community activities, and an essay describing her most meaningful accomplishments. The winners are selected by a panel of Glamour editors after a thorough review of the more than 1,000 applications submitted yearly.

Winners receive $1,000, national recognition in the magazine and the opportunity to meet with top women professionals in their chosen fields. This year, the winners gathered in New York City September 17-19, 1998, where they met ABC News correspondent Farai Chideya, author Naomi Wolf, and many other successful women.

Glamour has been conducting its Top Ten College Women competition for more than 40 years. Past winners include Cosmopolitan Editor Kate White, broadcast journalist Nancy Glass, the actresses Jobeth Williams and Sheryl Lee Ralph; and authors Veronica Chambers and Wanda Urbanska.

Wellesley College senior and political science major Jocelyn Benson is one of 40 American students awarded the prestigious Marshall Scholarship.

Gloria Amador -- University of California

Jocelyn Benson -- Wellesley College

Loretta Carle -- Saint Anselm College

Amy Caudy -- Washington University

Cindy Huang -- Yale University

Nikole Killion -- Northwestern University

Rachel Kopay -- University of Illinois

Kimara March -- University of Florida

Shetal Patel --Ohio State University

Katherine Zucca -- Scripps College