YSU senior is Rhodes Scholarship nominee

Staff report

youngstown

Erik Johnson of Boardman, a senior biology pre-medicine major at Youngstown State University with a minor in chemistry, has been nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship.

If selected, Johnson would become YSU’s first Rhodes representative.

A 2007 graduate of Boardman High School, Johnson is a four-year member of the YSU football team, earning two varsity letters and receiving the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.

Johnson, who is planning to pursue a career in dentistry, is also a Leslie H. Cochran University Scholar, YSU’s elite-level academic award. He has compiled an extensive community-service record that includes coaching youth basketball, umpiring youth baseball games, reading to local second-graders, volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of America and raising homelessness awareness through the annual Scholar and Honors “Shantytown” event.

The Rhodes Scholarships, established in 1902 and named after the late Cecil Rhodes, are the oldest international educational fellowships. They give exceptionally intelligent, forward-thinking students from around the globe the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford in England for up to three years.

Each year, 32 U.S. representatives from nearly all fields of study are among the 80 total Scholars worldwide.

Students are judged according to four main criteria: scholastic accomplishment; energy and desire to fully realize talents, as shown in a passion for sports; virtue and fellowship; and leadership instincts.

The distinctive standards were outlined by Rhodes himself to ensure that academics, physicality in leading and personal character be equally considered in an applicant.

After soliciting letters of support from faculty and other university staff, Johnson submitted his application to a YSU committee for review.

Ron Shaklee, geography professor and head of YSU’s Scholars and Honors Program, evaluated the application and determined Johnson’s credentials to be competitive and sufficient for regional competition.

With YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson’s official endorsement, Johnson’s application has since been forwarded to the Rhodes Scholar Committee for consideration.

The next phase of competition involves an initial round of evaluations. A select number of applicants will continue on to an interviewing round. It is believed that no YSU applicant has ever reached the interviewing stage of competition. Elected 2010 Rhodes Scholars will be announced next week.