Tyler Fisher
UCF's First Rhodes Scholar

Question: what do Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and UCF have in common? Answer: they all have students who are Rhodes Scholars.

Yes, that's right. This year, our own Tyler Fisher is one of only 32 Americans who have been selected to receive a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. The Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest international fellowship, was initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and brings outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. This year, the centennial anniversary of the first Rhodes Scholarship, there was a total of 981 applications nationwide for this highly competitive award.

Rhodes scholars are chosen on the basis of high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership, and physical vigor. Taken together, these qualities are needed in order for Rhodes Scholars to make "an effective and positive contribution throughout the world." As stated in Cecil Rhodes's will, Rhodes Scholars should "esteem the performance of public duties as their highest aim."

Tyler Fisher embodies all of these qualities. In addition to maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA with two majors (English and Spanish), he has successfully defended his Honors in the Major Thesis which is an English translation of Jose Marti's "Ismaelillo." Tyler has selflessly mentored young children in the HERO program (Honors Educational Reach Out) as well as the elderly residing in The Bridge--an assisted living facility. Tyler was a Team Leader for the Honors Freshman Symposium and this year served as a student assistant for Symposium. For the past two years Tyler has been an RA in UCF's residence halls and last summer received his second Honors Study Abroad Scholarship to study in Spain.

Incredibly, despite his academic studies and community service, Tyler still managed to find the time to publish his poetry and produce three compact disks of dulcimer music. Tyler's plan at Oxford is to study European literature and his ultimate goal is to be a leading poet.

For more information about the Rhodes Schoarship, you can visit their website at www.rhodesscholar.org