Five U.S. Military Academy Students Named 2026 American Rhodes Scholars

Among the winners are five students from U.S. military academies: the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The students will join the University of Oxford as part of the prestigious Rhodes scholar program, which aims to foster academic excellence and leadership skills. Alice L. Hall, a varsity basketball player at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was among the winners. Hall, who serves as student body president, has collaborated with a women's collective in Ghana on sustainability tools. She plans to study engineering at the University of Oxford. Hall expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, stating, "I am humbled and honored to be selected as a Rhodes scholar. I look forward to contributing to the University of Oxford community and learning from my peers." Sydney E. Barta, a Paralympian and member of the track team at Stanford University, was also selected as a Rhodes scholar. Barta studies bioengineering and sings in the Stanford acapella group Counterpoint. She plans to study musculoskeletal sciences at the University of Oxford. Barta's achievements in athletics and academics have earned her recognition, and she is excited to take on new challenges at the University of Oxford. Anirvin Puttur, a senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy, serves as an instructor pilot and flight commander. Puttur was selected as a Rhodes scholar and plans to study international relations at the University of Oxford. Puttur's experience in the military has prepared him for the academic rigor of the Rhodes scholar program, and he is eager to contribute to the University of Oxford community. The Rhodes scholar program has a long history of fostering academic excellence and leadership skills. The program was established in 1902 by Cecil Rhodes, a British philanthropist, with the goal of promoting international understanding and cooperation. The program has produced many notable alumni, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The University of Oxford has a strong reputation for academic excellence, and the Rhodes scholar program is a highly competitive and prestigious opportunity. The program provides students with a full scholarship to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Oxford, as well as access to a network of accomplished alumni and academics. The 2026 class of American Rhodes scholars will begin their studies at the University of Oxford in the fall. The students will have the opportunity to engage with a diverse community of scholars and academics, and to contribute to the University of Oxford's rich academic tradition.