CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard seniors
Tessa Haining from the women's heavyweight rowing team and
Isaac Robinson from the men's heavyweight rowing team were selected to the 2023 class of Rhodes Scholars.
Haining of Newton, Mass., is working on a joint concentration in chemistry and comparative literature. Haining is writing her thesis on the 20th-century French metaphysical philosopher Gilles Deleuze. She is a violinist, and production manager of Harvard's student-run orchestra. Haining is co-director of the University's Eating Concerns Hotline and Outreach service and serves as a peer counselor. At Oxford, Haining will pursue a M.Phil. in history of science, medicine, and technology. This year Haining earned a seat in the Radcliffe 1V this fall, finished tenth in the Championship Eight at the Head of The Charles, and second in the Varsity Eight at the Princeton Chase.
Robinson of Milton, Mass., and a concentrator in pure mathematics and computer science, has done research or interned at the National Institute of Health, Jane Street, Meta, and the Beijing Genomics Institute. Robinson created and occupied the position of Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Ethical Technology at Technology for Social Good. He is co-president of the Harvard College Democrats and has two patents pending. He will pursue a M.Sc. in advanced computer science at Oxford. Robinson sat in two seat of the Harvard Club 4 A at Head of the Charles assisting his boat to 18th place finish.
"This year's Rhodes Scholars representing the United States — elected by 16 independent committees around the country meeting simultaneously — will go to Oxford University in England next October to pursue graduate degrees across the breadth of the social sciences, humanities, and biological and physical sciences," Elliot F. Gerson, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust, said in a statement. "They inspire us already with their accomplishments, but even more by their values-based leadership and selfless ambitions to improve their communities and the world."
Haining and Robinson were among 32 U.S. students to receive the prestigious scholarship out of 2,500 applicants.
"Tessa came to Radcliffe from a small, local high school team where she was a good athlete, but it really wasn't until she came to Harvard that she began to see and trust herself as an impactful Division I athlete,"
Liz O'Leary, The Friends of Radcliffe Rowing Head Coach for Women's Heavyweight Crew said. "Tessa has endless enthusiasm, a strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to building a positive, competitive, fearless team. She is a leader by example, a vocal and dynamic teammate with an especially optimistic spirit. Tessa has always been able to see the good in her teammates, to support them, to advocate for them, but never to let them, or herself, 'off the hook.' We are incredibly proud of her Rhodes Scholarship award!"
Charley Butt, The The Bolles-Parker Head Coach for Harvard Men's Heavyweight Crew and Assistant Coach Pat Lapage said "Isaac is an incredibly dedicated and talented young man with a great work ethic and fantastic character – it is hard to imagine anyone more deserving of this accolade than Isaac, and we are lucky to have him on the team. We wish him all the best in his endevours across the pond next year!".
