We are not sure how this bit of fantastic news from the Anne Arundel County Public Schools escaped us, but Kudos to local student Fagan Harris, of Glen Burnie, who has been one of 80 students worldwide selected to receive a Rhodes Scholarship. From thecounty schools:
Fagan Harris, a 2005 graduate of Glen Burnie High School, was home from studying in Ireland for a few days last week when he received word that he’ll need to pack for England soon. The 2009 Stanford University graduate learned he was one of 32 American students named as recipients of 2010 Rhodes Scholarships, the most prestigious honor a college student can achieve.
Harris will join 80 other scholars from around the world when classes begin on October 1, 2011, at Oxford University, an institution which dates back to the 11th century and is the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
The Rhodes Trust pays all college and university fees; provides a stipend to cover necessary expenses while in residence in Oxford as well as during vacations; and transportation to and from England. Depending on the student’s field of study, the scholarship can be valued at as much as $50,000 per year for the two-to-three year program.
At Stanford, Harris majored in political science and American studies. He is currently completing his master’s degree in international law at the University of Limerick in Ireland as a Mitchell Scholar. The Mitchell Scholarship is named for former United States senator and diplomat George Mitchell. Winners are selected based primarily on their leadership abilities. The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, a British philanthropist and African colonial pioneer, is based on “high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership, and physical vigor,” according the The Rhodes Trust’s website.
Fagan attended Marley Elementary and Marley Middle School before Glen Burnie High School. He “has remained committed to address the challenges of public education and juvenile justice reform,” the Rhodes Trust website states. “He was vice president of the Stanford student body and president of Stanford Students for Relief, where his efforts focused on Pakistan and Katrina.” Harris, who is currently in Ireland, plans to pursue a doctoral degree in education while at Oxford. At Stanford University, Harris was named the winner of the Dinkelspiel Award, the highest honor for an undergraduate at that school.
