Thu | Nov 14, 2024

Jamaica Festival Queen 2023 heads to Oxford as the 2025 Jamaica Rhodes Scholar

Published:Thursday | November 14, 2024 | 5:20 PM
Aundrene Cameron, the 2025 Rhodes Scholar, being congratulated by Professor Gordon Shirley, OJ, Chief Executive Office of the Port Authority of Jamaica and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, who was deputising on behalf of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen. - Antoine Lodge photo

Aundrene Cameron was today chosen to be the Jamaica Rhodes Scholar for 2025.

King's House made the announcement after a full day of interviewing ten finalists vying for the scholarship.

Aundrene Cameron is a first-class honours graduate of the University of the West Indies, Mona with a first degree in Law. She is currently attending the Norman Manley Law School, pursuing a Legal Education Certificate and is a past student of the Ardenne High School and the Campion College.

She is also a recipient of the Governor General Achievement Award (2024) and a former Miss Jamaica Festival Queen.

Cameron intends to further studies in Criminology and Criminal Studies.

She will be heading to the University of Oxford in October 2025 to join a cohort of more than a hundred scholars from around the world to undertake fully funded post-graduate studies and become part of a strong community of people determined to make a positive difference in the world.

The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest (first awarded in 1902) and most prestigious international scholarship programme, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford.

“Students from anywhere in the world can apply for a Rhodes Scholarship and many find that taking part in the rigorous selection is a profoundly positive experience which leaves them well placed to go on to a Rhodes Scholarship or other opportunities worldwide,” a press release from the Rhodes Trust said.

“The Rhodes selection process aims to choose young people with proven academic excellence who also show exceptional character, leadership, the energy to use their talents to the full and a commitment to solving humanity's challenges. The selection process includes a rigorous review process before the finalists interview with a selection committee composed of renowned experts and leaders in diverse fields.”

This year's selection committee was chaired by Professor Gordon Shirley who was joined by other committee members: Mariame McIntosh Robinson (National Secretary for Jamaica); Dr Nadiyah Figueroa; Professor Trevor Munroe; Peter Goldson; Paul Lalor; and Professor Michael Taylor

The selection committee said it was impressed with the calibre of candidates and the impact they will have on Jamaica in the future.

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