UChicago, U of I students selected as Rhodes Scholar recipients in 2027

Two Illinois college students were selected for the 2027 Rhodes Scholar program.

The students, seniors from the University of Chicago and University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, are among the 32 Americans selected for the prestigious scholarship program in England. The scholars begin fully funded postgraduate programs at the University of Oxford in October 2027.

Almoatasim M.N. Shahbain, from Burr Ridge, is studying political science at the University of Illinois. Shahbain studied at College of DuPage and the University of Wisconsin at Madison before transferring to Illinois, according to The Rhodes Trust. At Oxford, he plans to pursue a masters' degrees in diplomatic studies and public policy.

Michelle Du, a Virginia native studying at the University of Chicago, plans to pursue a master’s degree of science in social science of the internet, followed by a master’s degree in philosophy in socio-legal research, according to The Rhodes Trust. Du is finishing two degrees at the University of Chicago: a B.A. in law, letters and society and a B.S. in data science.

Over 3,000 students applied for the scholarship. Shahbain and Du were selected from 238 finalists, according to The Rhodes Trust.

With this weekend’s announcements, 3,738 Americans have received Rhodes Scholarships since the first U.S. class in 1904, representing 331 colleges and universities. Since women became eligible in 1976, 704 American women have received the award.