Myron Rolle earned Rhodes Sholarship

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Myron Rolle on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala., earned the Rhodes Scholarship and then boarded a plane to join his Florida State teammates during their important Atlantic Coast Conference game at Maryland.

Rolle, a junior safety at Florida State who wants to pursue a career in medicine, had interviewed for the Rhodes earlier in the day and became one of 31 college students to receive the scholarship – perhaps the most prestigious academic award for international study.

"I feel very fortunate to have been selected as a Rhodes scholar," Rolle said in a statement released by the school. "I've learned so much just by going through the process of application and interviews, and I am a better person for it.

"The interview process requires candidates to evaluate their long-term goals and plans, and it has made me think about how I can make the most impact in terms of service to society."
Rolle graduated in just two and a half years with a 3.75 GPA in exercise science. He wants to study to become a neurosurgeon and practice medicine in impoverished areas, including the Bahamas, which is where his family has roots.

Rolle became the fourth Florida State student to be named a Rhodes Scholar and second FSU athlete. Garrett Johnson, a former standout shot putter at the school, received the scholarship in 2006.

Those who earn the scholarship study for at least two years – with the possibility of a renewal for a third – at the University of Oxford in England. The Rhodes Trust selects two scholars each from 16 regions in the country.

"Florida State University's most treasured values of strength, skill and character live in Myron Rolle," FSU President T.K. Wetherell said in a statement. "He is a remarkable young man and a tremendous example for all of our students."

Rolle's honor comes at a time when Florida State's athletic department needs positive publicity. More than 60 FSU athletes were implicated last year in an academic fraud scandal that resulted in an NCAA investigation and several university-imposed sanctions.

University officials appeared last month before the NCAA Committee on Infractions, which soon will announce what penalties Florida State will endure because of the scandal.

"In the midst of the troubles that have gone on here at Florida State academically, there are still some student-athletes doing the right thing," Rolle said last week. "And if we can continue that trend, possibly we can move that perception from being a school that just focuses on parties or athletics to a school that really fosters and creates strong students and strong individuals in the class room."

After earning perhaps the highest academic honor that can be bestowed on an American college student, Rolle stepped on the field at Byrd Stadium with a little more than six minutes remaining in the second quarter. The fans near the FSU locker room stood and gave him and ovation.

by: Andrew Carter
From: www.orlandosentinel.com