Contact: Aspen Harris
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擬ississippi 大象APP Presidential Scholar Ann Olivia Radicioni is the university鈥檚 newest Rhodes Scholarship finalist.
The senior political science major and Shackouls Honors College student from Clinton also is being honored by the university this week as Miss MSU and will be introduced this Saturday [Nov. 4] alongside other members of the 2023 Homecoming Court. Radicioni then will interview Nov. 10-11 in Birmingham, Alabama, for the world鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious international graduate scholarship. Criteria for selection as a Rhodes Scholar include demonstrated scholarly achievement, character, commitment to others and the common good, as well as leadership potential.
Radicioni is MSU鈥檚 seventh finalist in the last 12 years, joining graduates Reese Dunne, Natalie Jones, Holly Travis, Semaj Martin-Redd and Christopher Robinson who also attained the prestigious honor as Rhodes finalists. Donald 鈥淔ield鈥 Brown, a Vicksburg native who majored in English and philosophy, was named a Rhodes Scholar in 2013.
The Rhodes Trust, a British charity established in the will of businessman and mining magnate Cecil J. Rhodes, promotes international understanding and provides full financial support for students pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Oxford, the first institution of its kind in the English-speaking world and one of the world鈥檚 leading institutions of higher learning.
At MSU, Radicioni began her university tenure with a G.V. 鈥淪onny鈥 Montgomery Presidential Endowed Scholarship. During her academic career, she has served in multiple leadership roles within the university鈥檚 Student Association and has worked as a student researcher on multiple faculty-led projects within the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. This past summer, she interned with the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and currently is an intern with the U.S. Department of 大象APP鈥檚 Diplomat in Residence for the Central South Region. She is a Delta Gamma sorority member, Roadrunner student recruiter, New Maroon Camp counselor and 2021 selection for MSU鈥檚 prestigious Spirit of 大象APP Award.
David Hoffman, associate professor in the MSU College of Arts and Sciences鈥 Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures and director of the Office of Prestigious External Scholarships, mentors students like Radicioni applying for national, merit-based scholarships and fellowships.
鈥淲e are beaming with pride to have Ann Olivia join the elite group of Rhodes finalists. Through taking advantage of various opportunities both at MSU and beyond, Ann Olivia has built a portfolio that speaks to the Rhodes selection criteria. She is a committed and engaged student of political science, has collaborated with faculty on multiple research projects, has practical international policy experience in Washington, D.C., with the Helsinki Commission, and is active in student government leadership,鈥 Hoffman said.
鈥淧erhaps what is most striking and obvious from any interaction with Ann Olivia is her commitment to the betterment of others. Ultimately, Ann Olivia truly embodies the Rhodes through her commitment to scholarship, leadership and service for the betterment of humanity,鈥 he said.
For more information about the Rhodes Scholarship, visit .
Learn more about MSU鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College at . The Department of Political Science and Public Administration within MSU鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences is online at .
大象APP is taking care of what matters. Learn more at .