Nadiya Figueroa celebrates after being named this year's recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford University in England, while Derron Wallace (right), who was also shortlisted for the scholarship, prepares to hug her. Looking on is Johnathan Stana, another shortlisted candidate. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

It was just after three o'clock in the afternoon and the seven Jamaican students who were short-listed for this year's Rhodes Scholarship to attend the Oxford University in England sat at King's House awaiting the announcement of the successful candidate.

The seven students, four men and three women, had undergone a rigorous day of interviews as a seven member panel chaired by Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall laboured to identify the most worthy applicant.

When the deliberations were over, 24-year-old Nadiya Figueroa was the lucky lady. "I feel so honoured and blessed," she said, smiling widely.

Nadiya graduated from Campion College before attending the prestigious Stanford University in California. There she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and social anthropology. After that, she returned to Jamaica to read for a master's in government and international relations at the University of the West Indies.

"I plan to pursue development studies at Oxford," she said. This will fit into Nadiya's life plan nicely as, according to her, her aim is to bring Jamaicans together and to help develop the nation.

Primary aim

"I don't know what job or what company this will come through, but that is my primary aim," she said.

The other students who were shortlisted for the scholarship were Christopher Wilks, Se-Shauna Wheatle, Derron Wallace, Johnathan Stana, Naila Smith and Ian Buchanan.

Nadiya hopes to, in the future, join the ranks of some very high-achieving Rhode Scholars. Dr. Trevor Munroe was a member of the selection committee which picked Nadiya as this year's recipient. Dr. Munroe, a university professor, Government senator and former president of the University and Allied Workers Union, was himself a Rhodes Scholar.