TWO UDALL SCHOLARS NAMED 2010

RHODES SCHOLARS

Elliot F. Gerson, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust, recently announced the 32 American men and women chosen as Rhodes Scholars representing the United States. Two Udall Scholars are among this year's Rhodes Scholars class. Congratulations to Henry Barmeier (Udall '09) and Tyler Spencer (Udall '07), who were recently named Rhodes Scholars! They will begin study at the University of Oxford in England in October 2010. They are in the company of many other Udallers who have been awarded prestigious fellowships, including six other Rhodes Scholars and multiple Truman, Marshall, Gates, and Fulbright Scholars.

2009 Udall Scholar, Henry R. Barmeier, Princeton University

Barmier is a senior focusing on food and agriculture policy at Princeton University. His thesis project examines the relationship between local food system ownership and the health of a community in economic recession. He has worked extensively to promote environmentally and socially sustainable food on campus through his collaboration with the Dining Services department, and through his leadership of Slow Food Princeton. He also has worked in Rome at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization on the role of fisheries in the food security strategies of developing countries.

2007 Udall Scholar, Tyler S. Spencer, University of Virginia

Tyler Spencer studied International Health and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Virginia. Born in the rural town of Marion, Virginia, Spencer always had an appreciation for the environment. But it wasn't until college that his focus shifted to the international scene. Through a self-designed program, he conducted environmental research on conservation organizations in southern Africa and in Washington D.C. His interests also tap into the field of global health, with his latest study focusing on the impact that sport has played in HIV prevention programs across Africa. After graduating in 2008, he founded and serves as executive director of a nonprofit that trains top athletes as HIV/AIDS educators in the D.C. schools. He has also spent summers managing a grassroots AIDS prevention program in South Africa. He is head coach of the National Deaf Tennis Team.

Rhodes Scholarships provide all expenses for two or three years of study at the University of Oxford in England, and may allow funding in some instances for four years. The Rhodes Scholarships were created in 1902 by the Will of Cecil Rhodes, British philanthropist and African colonial pioneer.

Rhodes Scholars are chosen in a two-stage process. First, candidates must be endorsed by their college or university. This year, 805 were endorsed by 326 different colleges and universities. Committees of Selection then invite the strongest applicants to appear before them for interview. Two-hundred sixteen applicants from 97 different colleges and universities reached the final stage of the competition.

Scholars are chosen on the basis of the criteria set down in the Will of Cecil Rhodes. These criteria are high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership, and physical vigor. These basic characteristics are directed at fulfilling Mr. Rhodes's hopes that the Rhodes Scholars would make an effective and positive contribution throughout the world.

The 32 Rhodes Scholars chosen from the United States will join an international group of Scholars chosen from 14 other jurisdictions around the world. In addition to the 32 Americans, Scholars are also selected from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, the nations of the Commonwealth Caribbean, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Southern Africa (South Africa, plus Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland), Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Approximately 80 Scholars are selected worldwide each year.

Approximately 3,200 Americans have won Rhodes Scholarships, representing 310 colleges and universities. More than 1,800 American Rhodes Scholars are living in all parts of the U. S. and abroad.