Pomona College Class of 2025 Celebrates Downing Scholars: Two Outstanding Students Head to Cambridge University

Every fall, two recent graduates from Pomona College head to the University of Cambridge as Downing Scholars. This prestigious scholarship covers their studies, housing, meals, and travel for a year. While at Downing College—one of 31 colleges at Cambridge—they can explore any subject offered at the university.

This October, Haakon Pihlaja and Gabriel Schuhl will represent Pomona for nine months in Cambridge.

Haakon, a physics major from Duluth, Minnesota, will pursue an MPhil in quantitative climate and environmental science. He’s excited about the wealth of resources available at Cambridge. “Engaging with all the resources is really thrilling,” he says. His program includes classes and research. In the first term, he plans to dive into topics about climate science. By the second term, he’ll start electives and thesis research, culminating in a thesis during his last term.

Haakon aims to focus on oceanography and hopes to collaborate with scientists at the British Antarctic Survey. Last summer, he researched extreme warming in the North Atlantic at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, forming the basis for his senior thesis. “It’s lucky to have this award. I’ll get to see how people around the world tackle environmental issues,” he says.

Gabriel, double majoring in philosophy and politics, comes from Charlotte, North Carolina. He will study American history at Cambridge. For him, exploring a new field enriches his already diverse education. “Being in a place like Cambridge, full of history, is exciting,” he shares. He finds studying American history from a British perspective particularly intriguing.

At Pomona, Gabriel was drawn to philosophy for its analytical thinking and deep reading skills. He also values politics for its real-world implications. He plans to examine the shared beliefs of organized labor and corporate management in the early 20th century while at Cambridge. Ultimately, he hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in political theory and apply his knowledge to political campaigns.

“Cambridge will help me build new academic and social connections,” Gabriel notes. “These relationships will shape my learning and future career.”

Research indicates that studying abroad significantly enhances critical thinking and adaptability. A survey by the Institute for International Education found that 92% of students who studied abroad felt more motivated to learn. For Haakon and Gabriel, this experience is not just about academic growth; it’s about becoming more globally aware and adaptable individuals in their fields.



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