Schools

North Caldwell Man Named Rhodes Scholar

Phillip Yao one of 32 Americans to receive scholarship to study at Oxford.

Phillip Z. Yao of North Caldwell is one of 32 American men and women named 2013 Rhodes Scholars, according to an announcement made by The Rhodes Trust Sunday.

Yao, a senior at Harvard University, will join students from around the world for postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford next October. 

According to his bio on the Rhodes website, Yao is majoring in physics with a minor in philosophy. He has mentored in the Prep for Prep program in New York and has interned in New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office.

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His interest in the intersection of education and technology led him to create a virtual library that will reach more than a million students in India.

Yao’s diverse interests include playing piano and writing poetry.

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He is a 2009 graduate of Trinity School in New York.

Six Harvard undergraduates were among the 2013 Rhodes members, according to the Harvard Gazette.

The scholarships were established in 1903 in the will of Cecil Rhodes. It is the oldest international scholarship program in the world.


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