Elyse Warren, a brilliant and driven senior at Millsaps College, has been named a finalist for the highly prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. This recognition is a powerful demonstration of the personalized, high-impact education that is a hallmark of the Millsaps experience, the school said, adding that it reflects Warren’s academic excellence as a double-major in mathematics and neuroscience with minors in chemistry and psychology.
The Rhodes Scholarship, recognized globally as the oldest and most prestigious international fellowship, offers complete funding for postgraduate studies at England’s University of Oxford.
Recipients are chosen based on a combination of intellect, character, leadership, and dedication to service. With just over 100 scholars selected annually from around the world, the rigorous selection process is highly regarded within academic and professional circles. Finalist interviews are scheduled for November, and the winners are announced shortly after.
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Warren, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, credits a network of faculty mentors and campus resources for helping her navigate the Rhodes process. “Dr. Grondhuis has been an incredible advisor; her support goes far beyond the scholarship,” Warren told her school. “She even organized a mock interview team specifically for Rhodes applicants. I also benefited from practice interviews with Dr. Maggio, our Pre-Health advisor. The feedback I received was invaluable.”
Her path to applying began with a moment of encouragement from fellow student Adam Atigh. “We were talking about fresh basil in Jackson, and somehow that turned into a life-changing conversation,” Warren recounted. “Adam explained the Rhodes and told me he believed in me. That sparked everything. I went back to Dr. Thaw, who had mentioned it earlier, and he was so enthusiastic and supportive. Since then, the entire Millsaps community has lifted me up.”
“At Millsaps, we believe in preparing students not just for success, but for impact,” said Frank Neville, president of Millsaps College. “Elyse exemplifies the intellectual curiosity, leadership and compassion that are the hallmarks of a Millsaps student. Her inclusion as a Rhodes finalist is well-deserved and is a reflection not just of her tremendous talent but also her amazing work ethic.”
Her school commended her milestone, writing, “Millsaps College proudly celebrates Elyse’s achievement and the community that helped her reach this milestone.”
Beyond her studies, Warren is highly involved in research and leadership roles. She has served as a Biochemistry Ford Fellow and a Teaching Assistant for Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, and Physics. Her research experience includes work on “The sum-product problem for small sets II” at the Kinnaird Institute with Dr. Alex Rice, and the “Synthesis of Isoindolone Piperidines As Kinase Inhibitors” in Dr. Wolfgang Kramer’s Organic Chemistry Lab, according to her school’s sports website.
She holds several significant leadership positions, including Honor Council Head Chair, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, Omicron Delta Kappa President, and Nu Rho Psi President. Additionally, she is the Major Lifts Vice President, an MRI Medical School Chair, and a Pathways Program Peer. She also contributes to the community as an American Cancer Society ACS CARES Volunteer and a Crisis Text Hotline Counselor, and is a member of the Millsaps Flag Football team.
Warren is the daughter of Delois and Eddie Warren. Her father, Eddie Warren, was a football player for four years at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Warren also participated in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Summer Research Scholars Internship.
“These experiences have shaped my goals and helped me grow as a thinker and a leader,” Warren said to her school. “Millsaps has taught me that leadership starts with listening, and that service is what fulfills me.”
Preparing for her final Rhodes interviews, she emphasized the importance of staying grounded and focused. She advised fellow students to “Cultivate self-belief. Don’t let fear linger. And remember, as Kobe Bryant said, ‘Job’s not finished.’”
This resilient mindset, she noted, is what “keeps me going.”
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