Two athletes win Rhodes Scholarship

Former UCLA football player Chris Joseph and current fourth-year rugby player Scott Hugo were awarded two of the 32 prestigious Rhodes Scholarships on Saturday. Joseph and Hugo will attend Oxford University in the fall.

Joseph started at center in his senior season in 2007 and had started at offensive guard the two years prior. Hugo is currently a starter on the UCLA club rugby team. Joseph graduated in June of 2008 with a 3.95 GPA. He majored in geography with a focus on the complex social and scientific causes of deforestation. Hugo is a political science and history student.

Joseph plans to pursue his Masters of Philosophy in geography while Hugo will pursue his Masters of Philosophy in international relations.

The District 16 selection process was held in San Francisco on Friday and Saturday. Two recipients are selected from each of the 16 districts. California comprises one district in itself.

Friday evening, the 16 candidates for the California district attended a reception, during which they met the selection committee and other candidates. Interviews were held on Saturday with the selection announcement coming on Saturday night.

The Rhodes Scholarship was created by British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes in 1902. Winners are selected on the basis of high academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership potential and physical vigor, among other traits.

Winners of the scholarship are afforded all educational costs, such as matriculation, tuition and laboratory fees. Also, each recipient receives an allowance for all expenses accumulated during term-time and vacations. The Rhodes Trustees also cover travel costs to and from Oxford.

Compiled by Sara Salam, Bruin Sports senior staff.