The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.
A group of 32 students from the United States have been selected to attend the University of Oxford as part of the prestigious Rhodes Scholar program in the coming year among an international class representing more than 70 nations, scholarship officials announced.
Nearly 3,000 U.S. students began the application process for the scholarship covering all expenses at the storied university in Oxford, England, to pursue graduate degrees beginning in October 2025, the Office of the American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust in McLean, Virginia, said in a statement early Sunday.
The 32 recipients include students from 19 states and the District of Columbia attending 20 U.S. colleges and universities. During the application process, 865 students were endorsed by 243 colleges and universities. Committees in 16 U.S. districts then selected 238 finalists for interviews.
Returning students to the program for the first time in decades, Coe College in Iowa had its first scholarship winner in more than 53 years.
The Coe College student, Katherine Ameku, of Independence, Missouri, is a senior majoring in mathematics and statistics who is also Missouri’s youngest elected official. She serves as a Democratic precinct committee member.
Ameku, a member of the Kohawk class of 2025, is Coe’s third Rhodes Scholarship finalist in the past eight years.
Congratulations to Katie Ameku ’25 who was just named a Rhodes Scholar for District 12 of the U.S. Rhodes Trust!
The Rhodes Scholarship is the most preeminent scholarship in the world, and Katie is one of only 32 U.S. recipients this year. https://t.co/dywuCHKj0S
The scholarships are typically for two to three years but may extend to four. The award covers all fees, a living expense stipend and transportation between England and the recipient’s location. The scholarship is valued at about $75,000 annually, reaching to about $250,000 for scholars who remain in their departments for four years.
Ameku plans to pursue a philosophy, politics and economics degree at Oxford.
Last year, Ameku was a finalist for the Truman Scholarship, a $30,000 graduate fellowship to distinguished college students pursuing careers in public service.
University of Iowa psychology student Paras B. Bassuk, of Iowa City, was also named a Rhodes Scholar. At Oxford, they will pursue degrees in comparative social policy and socio-legal research.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
