EAST LANSING - MSU senior and Okemos High alum, Sarah Kovan, has been nominated for not one, but two academic scholarships/fellowships. She is one of five talented students at MSU nominated for the Mitchell Scholarship and Rhodes Scholarship. Kovan is an honors college senior studying comparative cultures and politics in the James Madison College and also majoring in human biology.

All the scholarships support US citizen students attending graduate school in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Kovan participated in two study abroad trips while at MSU, one in Spain and one in Israel. She is excited and anxious to possibly expand her education in two countries that she's never visited before.

"I did some independent research in Sir Lanka last summer where I studied global health studies which require multidisciplinary studies," said Kovan, "I'm hoping to continue my global health and multidisciplinary studies in the UK with these scholarships."

Kovan shared that the Okemos community reaches out to her regularly. Past teachers and students will check in with her and ask her how the season is going or what her next move is. Beyond her studies, soccer plays a big role in her life.

Sarah Kovan has won the Rhodes Scholarship. She will pursue a master's of philosophy degree in development studies at Oxford University in England. The winners were chosen from 869 applicants who were endorsed by 316 colleges.

The scholarship is worth about 50,000 dollars. Kovan's past academic research in Sir Lanka will help her abroad. She will be working with an international group of scholars chosen from 16 jurisdictions from around the world.

"This past week has been an incredibly amazing, and humbling, experience. The Rhodes Scholarship will provide me with an unbelievable opportunity to pursue an MPhil in Development Studies at the University of Oxford, said Kovan, "I am thrilled to take this opportunity to not only develop my studies, but also to explore the rich and unique culture within the United Kingdom."

Congratulations to Sarah Kovan for winning this scholarship and best of luck in Oxford.