University of New Mexico students Abdullah Feroze and Christopher Wright were selected as finalists for the Rhodes Scholarship, among the oldest and most prestigious international scholarships.
“I was actually studying at Zimmerman Library when I found out, so unfortunately, I couldn’t have too lively of a celebration,” Feroze said.
“I was extremely excited, especially with all the work I had put into the application and getting to know about the scholarship itself and the opportunities available at Oxford,” Wright said.
Each year, 80 Rhodes Scholars from round the world, including 32 from the U.S., receive this award to study at Oxford University in England. Unfortunately, neither Feroze nor Wright became recipients. However, both seniors expressed their humility and excitement at being considered for the award.
“I am quite humbled to be included in the interview process, and certainly excited that another colleague and friend Abdullah Feroze, from UNM, is also there with me,” Wright said.
Feroze, an economics and biology major, and Wright, a Portuguese and biology major, both credit Diane Rawls, an advisor for UNM’s Regents’ Scholarship, as the first person to encourage them to apply for the award.
Feroze was born in Birmingham, England, but moved to New Mexico and attended Goddard High School in Roswell, N.M. As the child of two physicians, Feroze knew he wanted to be in the field of medicine, he said.
However, it wasn’t until he traveled the world as a college student that he realized the degree of health disparities worldwide, which fueled his interests in international health policy and economics.
“Without an improved social, political, economic and cultural understanding of the field, it’s highly unlikely we’ll be able to successfully tackle the problems that continue to plague the field of study,” Feroze said.
Wright, oldest of three children, grew up in Fair Oaks, Calif. When he graduated from Jesuit High School in Carmichael, Calif., he had the opportunity to study at UNM and play on the men’s soccer team.
He credits his family as his major influence in pursuing quality education and becoming a model student. Wright said he remembers his grandfather reading to him, stressing the importance of school, and helping him with his homework. His parents also stressed he was a student first despite his athletic abilities, Wright said.
“I realized that I truly wanted I wanted the opportunity to continue my education by focusing in an area of research I see myself pursuing in the future,” Wright said.
Both students have also been active on campus, serving as Associated Student of UNM senators.
Story by Jazmen Bradford
Posted by sari at November 23, 2009 12:53 PM