wfn.org | ELCA College Student Receives Rhodes Scholarship

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

December 13, 1999

ELCA COLLEGE STUDENT RECEIVES RHODES SCHOLARSHIP
99-311-MR/MC*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Katherine Larson, a senior at St. Olaf College,
Northfield, Minn., is one of 32 national winners of Rhodes Scholarships
-- the nation's oldest and most prestigious post-graduate award.  Larson
is the sixth student to have earned the scholarship at St. Olaf, one of
28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America.
     "I am ecstatic" at receiving the award, Larson said.
     At St. Olaf, Larson is pursuing a double bachelor of arts degree
in music and art, with a concentration in women's studies.  She is a
member of the St. Olaf Cantorei choir.
     Larson calls herself a "global nomad."   She was born in Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada.  At age 10, she moved with her family to Geneva,
Switzerland, where her father, the Rev. Stephen M. Larson, is pastor of
English Language Lutheran Church, and her mother, the Rev. Rebecca
Larson, is secretary of research and development education for the
Lutheran World Federation -- a global communion of 128 member churches
in 70 countries representing 58 million of the world's 61.5 million
Lutherans.
     Larson has maintained a 3.96 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale at
St. Olaf.  She has participated in St. Olaf's two-year Great
Conversation program, has won numerous prizes in voice competitions, and
is a regular chapel cantor at the college.  Larson enjoys modern and
ballroom dance, skiing, jogging, and plays broomball and Ultimate
Frisbee.
     Larson and the other 31 Rhodes Scholars 2000 were chosen from 935
applicants endorsed by 323 colleges and universities nationwide.  The
scholarships provide two to three years of study at the University of
Oxford, England, where Larson will do post-graduate study in English
starting next fall.
     The value of a Rhodes Scholarship varies depending on academic
field, degree and the Oxford college chosen.  The Rhodes Trust pays all
college and university fees and provides an expense stipend.  The total
value averages $25,000 per year.
     In addition to the 32 students chosen from the United States, 36
additional scholarships are awarded to students in 18 other countries.
Students apply either in their home states or the state where they are
attending college.  An initial screening at the state level reduces the
applicants to about a dozen in each of the eight nationwide districts.
Four students from each district are awarded scholarships.
     Candidates must demonstrate high academic achievement, integrity,
unselfishness, respect, physical vigor, leadership potential and a wide
range of interests.

[** Michael Cooper is the director of news for St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.]

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