Questions pose no problem for newest Rhodes Scholar
Devin Grant has always enjoyed looking for answers.
As a child, he preferred working on a book of math problems to watching television cartoons. As he grew, the questions changed, but the love of finding solutions remained.
That appreciation will serve Mr. Grant well as Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2015 Rhodes Scholar.
Each year, 11 outstanding Canadian students are chosen on the basis of exceptional intellect, character, leadership and commitment to services to study at the University of Oxford.
The St. John’s resident is currently in his fifth year of studies at Memorial University and is nearing completion of a honours degree in applied math with a minor in computer science.
A regular on the Dean’s List, Mr. Grant has also been heavily involved with the MUN Students’ Union and United Nations Society; is a member of the award winning Newman’s Sound Men’s Choir and a founding member of The Night Caps, an all-male vocal quartet specializing in holiday performances. He has also been involved in several musical productions.
Although Mr. Grant was always aware of the Rhodes Scholarships, it wasn’t something he had intended to look into.
“I didn’t want to apply just for the sake of applying, until I came across a program at Oxford, the master’s in mathematical modeling and scientific computing,” he said. “I found the program really intriguing and figured if it was something I was going to apply for anyway, why not try for the Rhodes as well.”
This summer Mr. Grant worked through the application process, which included a personal statement, curriculum vitae, transcript, a letter of institutional endorsement and six personal references. In November he found out he was shortlisted for the scholarship, which would be decided following a dinner reception for the students and selection committee on Nov. 27th and individual interviews on the 28th.
“It’s a very quick turnaround,” he said. “The interview was on the 28th and I found out I had been chosen later that day.
“I still don’t think it has sunk in fully. Right now I’m focused on my exams and getting the work done that’s needed to finish up the semester. Once the Christmas break begins, I’m sure it will really hit me.”
Mr. Grant will begin his Master’s at Oxford in October.
“The idea of the program is to take a real world problem, apply mathematical models to it and solve it numerically using analytical and computational skills,” he said. “I see the program as equipping me with a tool set. By the time I finish I will have developed the skills to identify these problems and approach them.”
“To be able to learn how to answer all of these questions and tackle problems that seem insurmountable is an incredible opportunity, and I truly believe that it is the opportunity that this program provides. There are a lot of different areas I can apply this knowledge to and I think the open-endedness of it all is exciting.”
One thing he knows for certain is that he will appreciate having the support of the Rhodes Trust behind him.
“They've been incredibly helpful already in terms of advice for getting my application together, and choosing a college to be a part of,” said Mr. Grant. “I really get the sense that there's a good community among the Rhodes Scholars.
“We are all meeting in the third week of September for a dinner in Toronto before we head over. So I can get to know everyone and start developing that support group. I think that’s going to be a huge benefit.”