Michelle Rogers

CSU Honors Student to Become Candidate for Rhodes Scholarship

By: Mason Harrison

Posted: 9/21/09

In an era when bad news seems to abound about the university, at least one area seems to be shining brightly. Michelle Rogers, a fourth-year CSU psychology major, is set to become only the second CSU student in the past several years to be tapped to represent the university in the application process to become a Rhodes scholar.

Rogers is an honors student with a 3.9 GPA who wants to receive a doctorate in psychology. "I feel overwhelmed," Rogers said. "It's an honor to be able to apply for the scholarship." The Rhodes award is an international scholarship for study at the University of Oxford. Scholars may take up studies in any of the university's full-time postgraduate degree programs - including master's programs, research degree fields or second undergraduate degree programs. The scholarship is generally awarded for two years.

"I really believe Michelle has an honest shot [at becoming a Rhodes scholar]," said Richard Milo, dean of CSU's Honors College and a member of the selection committee that approved Rogers's Rhodes application. "In general, Michelle has been everything one would hope from an Honors College student. She is very personable, articulate and presents herself well in person and has a very good idea of what she wants to do."

Once Rogers's application is officially approved by the university president, she must await an invitation to take part in a national interview process where she will compete with other students across Illinois and Indiana. Following that process, an invitation must then be extended to be interviewed by Oxford faculty.