32 Rhodes Scholars Announced

Reader Comments
Back to blog

These scholarships were intended for student-athletes per Cecil Rhodes...
'Cecil J. Rhodes, who endowed these scholarships, believed that the last of these qualities was best tested through participation and success in sports. Participation in varsity sports is not essential if applicants are able to demonstrate in other ways the physical vigor that will enable Rhodes Scholars to make an effective contribution to the world around them.'
So, obviously, it matters to the selection committee and it mattered to the man who endowed the entire thing. All of those who received a scholarship are to be commended, but a varsity sport at a division one level requires committment above and beyond just about any other extracurricular activity due to practice and travel time.

chad of PA 2:32PM December 05, 2008

It is difficult and unreaslitc to select top candidtates from the thousands of applicants. Besides, such a tag of honor on the student who is accepted does not have the merit of distinction from acceptance to many good universities. I was accepted at Oxford-to drop out from the first two weeks-but attend and graduate from Cambridge. I also had some postdoctoral studies at Harvard. I did necessarily learn more, nor did I face more competition than the modest, not so prestigious university I attended in Michigan. Is n't it a time to focus on the student more than on the U.?

Scotass Murcus of OR 5:52AM November 28, 2008

The short Alison Go piece here leaves out much that is important about the Rhodes Scholarship and this year's recipients. (Readers may google "2008 Rhodes Scholars" for a complete list of the 32 recipients.)
Since the piece here keys on the current crop of selected Scholars who are also varsity athletes, a significant omission is Ms. Lindsay Whorton of Drake University in Des Moines, who was a first team Academic All-American last season and Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2008, representing all sports. She was first-team All MVC last season and the previous year -- when Drake overcame injuries and adversity to advance to the NCAA tournament after having a regular season conference record of 5-13 -- she was MVP of the conference tournament. Three of the four teams on which she played advanced to post-season competition with Lindsay's leadership playing a key role as the Amy Stephens-coached teams won a total of 68 games during that time.
A native of Independence, MO, and four-year starter for the Drake Bulldogs, Lindsay holds the Drake career record for 3-point goals (266) and ranks third in career 3-pointers in the Missouri Valley Conference. Her 1,564 points put Lindsay 13th in Drake career scoring.
During Lindsay's years at Drake, during which time she compiled a perfect 4.0 average in English and secondary education and was active in various leadership activities, she has been a much sought-after public speaker. This past summer she worked in youth ministry in West Des Moines and took students to help at a South Dakota reservation for Native Americans. She is currently finishing her Drake degree by completing her student teaching at Valley high school in West Des Moines, where she is described as "innovative, engaging and one in a million."

Jay A. Davidson of IA 4:06PM November 27, 2008

It would appear from the bios posted that the selection committees around the country are biased in favoe of minority candidates - - - has "political correctness" so permeated academia in "correcting " the injustices of the past that a Euro-American may as well not apply ? Has the mantra of "diversity" so dominated the psyche of all things academic that the concept of a marketplace of ideas and "free thing" has succumbed to the tunnel vision of racial and ethnic focused bias ?

Stan of GA 10:35AM November 26, 2008

Athletes are stereotyped as dumb jocks, so having an athlete as a Rhodes Scholar debunks the stereotype. Also, its not the time commitment, its the physical commitment. They take lumps that cause concussions, which don't tend to add academic ability. That is why its a big deal.
Congrats to all of them.

Matt of GA 11:33PM November 25, 2008

You might have fixed "their," but you still spelled athlete wrong (twice), and extracurricular. Maybe you should have spent a little more time in the classroom rather than your non-athletic "extracuriculars."

MP of OH 3:44PM November 25, 2008

I care if they are athletes. This means that person worked hard to earn and keep a scholarship to the university. It also shows they are a well rounded person, not just a top notch scholar.

Vera of FL 2:27PM November 25, 2008

who cares if they are atheletes. If they are academically balanced, there are plenty of other extracuricular activities that require just as much if not more time commitment, some with more noble causes than running with a ball, knocking a few guys over?

Princess of TX 1:40PM November 25, 2008