Hadeel Abdallah is Britain's first Rhodes Scholar since 1955

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Hadeel Abdallah is Britain's first Rhodes Scholar since 1955

As an activist working for educational opportunities for immigrant and refugee women, she founded and directed the Bilal Scholarship Endowment

Thursday November 22, 2018 11:05 AM, ummid.com News Network

Kentucky: Hadeel Abdallah, a Dunbar High School graduate from the University of Kentucky, has been named a Rhodes Scholar, one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. Hadeel, the daughter of Younes Abdallah and Maissa Abdallah of Lexington, is the first Rhodes Scholar from UK since 1955.

The scholarships will enable her to attend Oxford University in England for graduate work. At Oxford, Hadeel plans on getting graduate degrees in refugee and forced migration studies and global governance and diplomacy, Kentucky Relay Media reported.

“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as a Rhodes Scholar,” Hadeel Abdallah, a Muslim who is one of the 32 winners named by Rhodes Trust from across the United States, said.

“I am looking forward to the educational opportunities provided to me by this award and what it will mean for my future aspirations. I would like to thank my family, friends, mentors and the University of Kentucky for their help in my endeavors thus far", she added.

Hadeel Abdallah has been a standout student at UK thus far. As an activist working for educational opportunities for immigrant and refugee women, she founded and directed the Bilal Scholarship Endowment, which provides scholarships to underrepresented students across Kentucky.

A recipient of both the Chellgren Fellowship and the Gaines Fellowship, she previously served as the president of the Muslim Student Association and as director of inclusion and outreach for the UK Student Government Association. She was also national outreach director for the Muslim Youth of North America. Earlier this year, she was named a Truman Scholar, a national scholarship that provides $30,000 to 58 U.S. students for graduate work.

“Hadeel’s passion for public service and resolve to make a positive impact on the world are an inspiration to the UK family,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “Her story embodies the values and ideals that our campus holds dear: dogged determination and unwavering good will. We are so proud of her accomplishments and wish her the best in her journey as a Rhodes Scholar.”

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