In a significant announcement, 32 American students have been named as recipients of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for the class of 2026. This year’s cohort includes five students from U.S. military academies, along with three students each from Yale University, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The chosen scholars are dedicated to various impactful fields, including housing solutions, health outcomes, sustainability efforts, and prison reentry programs.
Among the winners is Alice L. Hall from Philadelphia, a varsity basketball player at MIT who also holds the position of student body president. Hall has made contributions to sustainability through collaboration with a women’s collective in Ghana and intends to pursue studies in engineering.
Another notable scholar is Sydney E. Barta, a Paralympian from Arlington, Virginia, and a member of the Stanford University track team. Barta, who studies bioengineering and participates in the university’s acapella group, “Counterpoint,” plans to delve into musculoskeletal sciences in her graduate studies.
Additionally, Anirvin Puttur from Gilbert, Arizona, currently a senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy, serves as both an instructor pilot and flight commander. With a major in aeronautical engineering and applied mathematics, Puttur has a keen interest in linguistics and speaks four languages fluently.
These scholars will embark on their journey at the University of Oxford as part of the Rhodes program, which facilitates over 100 scholarships globally each year for ambitious students pursuing two to three years of graduate studies. Established in 1903 and named after British colonialist Cecil John Rhodes, the program has cultivated a remarkable community of over 8,000 alumni who have made significant contributions in fields spanning government, education, the arts, and social justice.
Among the winners is Alice L. Hall from Philadelphia, a varsity basketball player at MIT who also holds the position of student body president. Hall has made contributions to sustainability through collaboration with a women’s collective in Ghana and intends to pursue studies in engineering.
Another notable scholar is Sydney E. Barta, a Paralympian from Arlington, Virginia, and a member of the Stanford University track team. Barta, who studies bioengineering and participates in the university’s acapella group, “Counterpoint,” plans to delve into musculoskeletal sciences in her graduate studies.
Additionally, Anirvin Puttur from Gilbert, Arizona, currently a senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy, serves as both an instructor pilot and flight commander. With a major in aeronautical engineering and applied mathematics, Puttur has a keen interest in linguistics and speaks four languages fluently.
These scholars will embark on their journey at the University of Oxford as part of the Rhodes program, which facilitates over 100 scholarships globally each year for ambitious students pursuing two to three years of graduate studies. Established in 1903 and named after British colonialist Cecil John Rhodes, the program has cultivated a remarkable community of over 8,000 alumni who have made significant contributions in fields spanning government, education, the arts, and social justice.
