Mantra Henderson, MLIS Director of Library Services James H. White Library Mississippi Valley State University 14000 Hwy 82 W MVSU 5232 Itta Bena, MS 38941 662-254-3494 (phone) 662-254-3499 (fax) ________________________________ From: Sandra Phoenix <sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Sent: Friday, November 13, 2015 9:35 AM To: Mantra L Henderson Cc: Stephanie A. Smith Subject: HU Seniors Named Finalists for Prestigious Schwarzman, Rhodes Scholarships Hampton University News November 10, 2015 HU Seniors Named Finalists for Prestigious Schwarzman, Rhodes Scholarships Two Hampton University senior psychology majors have been selected to interview for a couple of the world's most prestigious international scholarships. Tanesha Johnson has been named a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, the world's oldest international scholarship, and Ivana Thomas has been named a semi-finalist for the Schwarzman Scholarship, the world's newest international scholarship of note. The finalists' top qualities will be put to the test later this month when they will both appear before their respective selection committees. Thomas will interview on November 19 in New York City, New York, before the Schwarzman Scholarship Selection Committee. On November 20 and 21 Johnson will, in turn, interview in Indianapolis, Indiana before the District IX Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee. "Congratulations to these scholars, they truly exemplify the Hampton University Standard of Excellence," said HU President Dr. William R. Harvey. The Rhodes Scholarship, launched in 1903, is in its second century of operation and has long been globally respected as the gold standard of international scholarships. Winners of the Rhodes Scholarship receive, all expenses paid, 2-to-3 years of graduate study at the University of Oxford, in Oxford, England. In the U.S. approximately 1,000 students generally receive university endorsement for the Rhodes Scholarship by their undergraduate institutions. Of those candidates, 200 are invited by the Rhodes Trust to interview and of that shortlisted number a final 32 are ultimately named Rhodes Scholars. "I am so happy to be able to represent Hampton University and my family by interviewing with the Rhodes Trust. It's such an honor to be a finalist," said Johnson. Aside from being finalists, seniors, and psychology majors, the two HU honors students have even more in common. Johnson and Thomas have both been mentored by Dr. Sabin P. Duncan, Director of the Freddye T. Davy Honors College, and both have also served for several semesters as teaching assistants for Professor Snehlata Pandey, of the Hampton University Biology Department. The scholarship contenders, recently notified of their shortlisted status, have been praised by their mentors for their classroom performance and leadership promise as well as their recent invitations to interview. "Tanesha Johnson is one of those students that whenever I see her name listed on my class roster, I give a shout of joy," said Duncan. Similarly, Professor Pandey stated that both finalists are among the best students she has taught in recent years at Hampton, adding: "Ivana is a very delightful and confident student with great intellectual curiosity.” Johnson, a member of the Freddye T. Davy Honors College, is Hampton University's third Rhodes Scholarship finalist in recent years, and Hampton University's fourth Rhodes Scholarship finalist of record. The previous HU Rhodes finalists have been alumni Devin Walker; Jeffrey M. Eugene; and Joshua Gopeesingh. Earlier this year, Ivana Thomas was distinguished as HU's first Truman Scholarship finalist; Thomas is now, in addition, Hampton's first ever Schwarzman Scholarship semi-finalist. Ms. Kendyl Crawley-Crawford, alumna of the Freddye T. Davy Honors College, became Hampton University's first ever Marshall Scholarship winner in 2012. The rewards at stake are bountiful. In the U.S., 300 students will interview for the Schwarzman Scholarship, and ultimately 100 of them will be named Schwarzman Scholars. Schwarzman Scholarship winners will for one year receive an all-expenses paid graduate education in Beijing at Tsinghua University, one of China's premier universities. In that year, Schwarzman Scholars are immersed in Chinese history and culture, as well as introduced to Mandarin, while nonetheless pursuing at Tsinghua University a one-year master's degree, taught in English, in one of three possible areas of graduate study: Public Policy; Economics and Business; or International Studies. Buoyed by instructors from Harvard, Oxford, Yale, Duke and other top international universities, the Schwarzman scholarship program and curricula are founded and funded largely by American billionaire, Stephen A. Schwarzman. "I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. I look forward to the chance to continue spreading empathy and equality on a global scale," said Thomas. For additional information regarding the Schwarzman and the Rhodes Scholarships, please visit: www.schwarzmanscholars.org<https://webmail.hamptonu.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=YHkL2N6wTKAlyAwqiLXqPSwDWkm8LS0S4xfzDglCZoaAX__83enSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgBzAGMAaAB3AGEAcgB6AG0AYQBuAHMAYwBoAG8AbABhAHIALgBvAHIAZwAvAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.schwarzmanscholar.org%2f> and www.rhodesscholar.org<https://webmail.hamptonu.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=P12TvTNY622lwG9iYZzQSrW6KrY0BXGhCQuZnVhUqYeAX__83enSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgByAGgAbwBkAGUAcwBzAGMAaABvAGwAYQByAC4AbwByAGcALwA.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.rhodesscholar.org%2f> SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.