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| Rosanna Nicol loves the close-knit community at King's. (Nick Pearce Photo) |
Rosanna Nicol had just arrived home from her interview when she got the call: she got the scholarship. And not just any scholarship: a Rhodes scholarship.
鈥淪o my roommates cranked up the dance music and we had a dance party,鈥� she says, laughing. 鈥淚 was totally overwhelmed.鈥�
The University of King鈥檚 College student expects to finish her undergraduate degree in economics and history in the next few months and begin studies at Oxford University in England in September. She plans to take her master鈥檚 degree in development.
Ms. Nicol, 22, from Ottawa, Ont. is one of 11 Canadian recipients of the 2009 Rhodes scholarship. One of the world鈥檚 most prestigious scholarships, the Rhodes covers all expenses for two years of study at one of the world鈥檚 oldest universities (it was founded in the 12th century).
The scholarships were created in 1902 by the will of Cecil Rhodes, British philanthropist and African colonial pioneer. They recognize success in academics and sports, as well as community service.
Ms. Nicol, who has maintained a grade point average of 鈥�4-point-something,鈥� has been active in campus life; she plays with the Dal/King鈥檚 Ultimate Frisbee team, sings with the King鈥檚 College Chapel Choir and volunteers with World University Service of Canada (WUSC). Last year, she was successful in bringing in a student levy at King鈥檚 to support WUSC鈥檚 student refugee program.
After completing the Foundation Year Program at King鈥檚, she spent six months volunteering overseas with the OSU Children鈥檚 Library Fund in Ghana, a small grassroots NGO which brings books and literacy skills to African children and adults. While in Ghana, she worked in a library, taught French to children and coached a girls鈥� soccer team.
She says she applied for the Rhodes on the suggestion of King鈥檚 President William Barker, and also gives a shout-out to AV俱乐部 professors Amal Ghazal in the Department of History and Ruth Forsdyke in the Department of Economics for their encouragement and inspiration.
鈥淭hey really challenge your thinking,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f you can bring something to the table you鈥檝e thought about and researched, they鈥檒l give it a chance. I find that totally inspiring.鈥�