RECENT GRADUATE CHENOA MARQUIS NAMED RHODES SCHOLAR

Chenoa Marquis '03 has been awarded a Caribbean Rhodes scholarship. The recent announcement named Marquis, who lives in Morvant, Trinidad and Tobago, as one of only three Rhodes Scholars chosen from the Caribbean.

Marquis is the third Rhodes Scholar from Bryn Mawr, Emma Robinson '86 and Carrie LaSeur '93. The Rhodes scholarships, international-study awards created in 1902 by the will of Cecil Rhodes, a British business magnate and colonialist, were first offered to women in 1976.

Marquis will begin her study at Oxford University this fall, joining 32 Americans and about 95 other scholars from the former British colonies and Germany who were chosen for the honor worldwide. Marquis is planning to read for a master's degree in English literature with a 19th-century focus and possibly to pursue a Ph.D.

Marquis, who was an English major at Bryn Mawr, credits the College with helping her win this award. "Bryn Mawr shaped me in so many ways," said Marquis. "Probably the most important gift Bryn Mawr gave me is self-awareness. The ability to understand who I am and value my individuality has really helped me on the road to this scholarship."

Marquis' activities at the College included serving as a research assistant for the English department, as one of the senior English major representatives to the College's curriculum committee, and as a Writing Center tutor. She was selected as an Alumnae Regional Scholar and a senior representative to the Admissions committee. Marquis was a member of BACaSO, the association for students of African and Caribbean descent, and the Association of International Students. A four-year member of the Bryn Mawr-Haverford chorale, she also participated in the College Bowl and was a three-year member of the Rocky Horror Picture Show cast.

The application process, said Marquis, included providing transcripts, exam results, a personal essay, her proposed course of study at Oxford and the work she aimed to do afterward. Each applicant submits six recommendations, four of which must be academic. The candidates were interviewed by a selection committee and asked a range of questions on academic and personal achievements, goals and intentions. The committee announces its decisions to the candidates and the press the evening of the day interviews are conducted, explained Marquis.

"I'm very happy to be selected because the Rhodes isn't just about academic excellence, it's about being well-rounded and having the potential to make a difference in the world. For those reasons, I consider it my greatest honor," said Marquis.

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