David Zoltowski, a senior on the Michigan State swim team, has been nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship. (Courtesy: Michigan State)
Michigan State has nominated five students to interview for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, and among them is senior swimmer David Zoltowski.
Zoltowski, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and 2013-2014 Academic All-Big Ten honoree, has moved on to the next round of interviews in Indianapolis.
The scholarship awards 32 undergraduates from around the United States (in addition to 51 others from around the world) the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford in England for two years, and is one of the most renowned and prestigious academic awards anywhere in the world.
“I am very excited to be nominated,” said Zoltowski. “I would love to study at Oxford and I am hoping for an opportunity to interview for the award. I’d like to thank many people, but I’ll start with Coach Matt Gianiodis, Jim Pignataro, and Jeremy Flynn for supporting me in both academics and athletics. I’d also like to thank Ashley Green from MSU’s National/International Fellowships and Scholarships Office for her encouragement and support in the application process.”
Now, he will be combined with nominees from the states of Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia, with the top candidates being invited to Indianapolis for in-person interviews. Two Rhodes Scholars will be awarded to each of the 16 regions.
Editor’s note: though Zoltowski goes to school in Michigan, he will be grouped with students from Indiana, his home state.
Zoltowski is an electrical engineering major, and his current plan is a very unique application of his education. He’s planning to pursue a doctoral degree in electrical engineering and conduct research on the electrical impulses used by the brain. He’s already earned another prestigious award, the Goldwater Scholarship, making him just the 36th Michigan State student to ever earn that award.
Zoltowski was 57th at the Big Ten Championships last year in the 500 free, 35th in the 400 IM, and 41st in the 200 fly.
Zoltowski isn’t the only swimmer to be nominated for this award from the state of Michigan. The University of Michigan has nominated diver Kevin Bain and former swimmer David Moore for the award.