THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 12, 1994 TAG: 9412120044
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
A record number of women were named Rhodes scholars on Sunday for the third straight year, again outnumbering men in the competition for prestigious scholarships to attend Oxford University.
Eighteen women and 14 men will head to Oxford next fall, with plans to pursue studies in engineering, medicine, politics and theology, among other subjects.
Seventeen women were named scholars last year and 16 women in 1992. The competition - created in 1902 - was first opened to women in 1976. The program's criteria include high academic achievement, integrity, leadership and athletic prowess, program officials said.
Many of the students named as Rhodes scholars showed interest in community service. Several volunteered as tutors for inner-city children, one student tutored prison inmates and another worked at a center for sexual assault victims.
Brent Roam, a religious studies major at Arizona State University, founded a drug outreach center in Stockton, Calif. Roam is also an actor and plans to study English language and literature at Oxford, program officials said.
The winners were also active in a wide variety of sports, including kick boxing and rock climbing.
Harvard University led the field with six scholars. Princeton University followed with three students chosen. A total of 23 schools were represented.
The 32 Americans were chosen from 1,253 applicants. About 60 scholars were chosen from 17 other countries, officials said. by CNB