University of Pennsylvania fourth-year Florence Onyiuke (C&W'26), from Altamonte Springs, Florida, has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship for graduate study at the University of Oxford in England!
The Rhodes, established in 1902, is highly competitive and one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. The scholarship funds tuition and a living stipend for two or three years of graduate study at Oxford and may allow funding in some instances for four years. At Oxford, Onyiuke plans to pursue a master’s degree in economic development with a focus on West Africa.
Onyiuke is a senior in the Huntsman Program, pursuing a double major in International Relations & Business with a minor in Spanish. On campus, she plays an active role in various organizations, serving as the Executive Director for Black Wharton Consulting, a 3-year Perry World House Student Fellow, and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board. Her academic interests center on international economic development, international law, and immigration. She had the unique opportunity to explore these areas as a 2023 Frederick Douglass Global Fellow, engaging in a comparative study of economic policy, social change, and conflict responses in Washington, D.C., Cape Town, and Dublin. Florence is also a Coca-Cola Scholar, a Ron Brown Scholar, and a recipient of both the Presidential Service and Educational Excellence awards. An advocate of global citizenship and equity, she plans to pursue a master's degree in Economic Development with a focus on West Africa.
According to the Rhodes Trust, about 100 Rhodes Scholars will be selected worldwide this year. Onyiuke is among the 32 American Rhodes Scholars chosen to represent the United States. According to the Rhodes Trust, this year nearly 2,800 American students began the application process; 965 were endorsed by 264 different colleges and universities; and 238 applicants reached the final stage of the competition.
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