Five KU students vying for prestigious Rhodes, Marshall scholarships

The University of Kansas is endorsing five students for the prestigious Rhodes and Marshall scholarships. They are, from left, Shegufta Huma, Kevin Tenny, John “Ike” Uri, Jesse Burbank and Abigail Fields.

The University of Kansas on Wednesday announced five students whom it’s endorsing for the prestigious Rhodes and Marshall scholarships, winners of which study in the United Kingdom.

Shegufta Huma and Kevin Tenny are applying for both the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships. John “Ike” Uri is applying for the Rhodes Scholarship. Jesse Burbank and Abigail Fields are applying for the Marshall Scholarship.

“To spend time with these students is inspirational and uplifting,” Bryan Young, director of the KU Honors Program, said in a statement from KU.

More about the students, according to KU:


Shegufta Huma

• Shegufta Huma, Bel Aire, is majoring in political science with a minor in Spanish. KU involvement: Student Senate, Women of Color Collective, Muslim Student Association, Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall. Other achievements: University Scholars Program in 2015, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights intern in Washington, D.C., in spring 2016.


Kevin Tenny

• Kevin Tenny, Leawood, is majoring in chemical engineering with a research focus on electrochemical engineering. KU involvement: Student Senate, certifications in Service Learning, the Global Awareness Program and the Research Experience Program. Other achievements: Goldwater Scholar, National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates programs at Iowa State University and at the University of South Carolina and a third internship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.


John “Ike” Uri

• John “Ike” Uri, Concordia, is majoring in sociology with minors in economics, philosophy and Russian business communication. KU involvement: executive director of Center for Community Outreach, Plymouth Language Program volunteer coordinator. Other achievements: University Scholars Program in 2015, research assistant for the DeBruce Foundation in Kansas City, regular contributor to the Midwest Voices panel in The Kansas City Star.


Jesse Burbank

• Jesse Burbank, El Paso, Texas, is triple-majoring in economics, history and political science. KU involvement: Model UN, Red Cross Club, Student Senate Elections Commission. Other achievements: 2015 “London Review” Study Abroad program, two summers as an intern in Kansas State Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office.


Abigail Fields

• Abigail Fields, of Minneapolis, Minn., is majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology and French, with a focus on sustainable urban agriculture. KU involvement: Global Scholars Program, co-president of Environs, campus Sustainability Leadership Board. Other achievements: Permaculture Design Certificate through the Kansas Permaculture Institute.


Marshall Scholarships provide funding for graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom. Rhodes Scholarships pay for one to three years at the University of Oxford in England.

Regional panels review applications for both scholarship programs. Finalists will be interviewed in November.

KU students have previously won nine Marshall and 26 Rhodes scholarships. The nomination process is coordinated by the Office of Fellowships & Scholarships in the University Honors Program.