Bright Minds Shine: U. S. Students Secure Prestigious Rhodes Scholarships

In a remarkable achievement, 32 American students have been selected as 2026 Rhodes Scholars, showcasing their dedication to various fields such as housing, health, sustainability, and prison reentry programs. Among the winners are five students from U.S. military academies and three each from Yale University, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Notable Winners

Alice L. Hall

• Background: Varsity basketball player and student body president at MIT.
• Achievements: Involved in sustainability projects with a women’s collective in Ghana.
• Future Plans: Plans to pursue engineering studies at the University of Oxford.

Sydney E. Barta

• Background: Paralympian and member of the Stanford University track team.
• Achievements: Studies bioengineering and sings in the Stanford acapella group “Counterpoint.”
• Future Plans: Aims to study musculoskeletal sciences.

Anirvin Puttur

• Background: Senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy, instructor pilot, and flight commander.
• Achievements: Studies aeronautical engineering and applied mathematics; proficient in four languages.
• Interests: Deep interest in linguistics.

About the Rhodes Scholarship Program

• Established: 1903.
• Annual Awards: Over 100 scholarships for graduate studies at the University of Oxford.
• Alumni: More than 8,000 alumni with significant contributions in government, education, the arts, and social justice.