Sask. student wins Rhodes Scholarship
A University of Saskatchewan (U of S) student has won a Rhodes scholarship to study at the University of Oxford in England.
Cassidy Serhienko is one of only 11 recipients in Canada, according to a U of S news release.
She will pursue a Master’s in English Literature and focus on contemporary feminist writing.
“It still hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Serhienko said in the news release.
“I’d heard of the scholarship before; it gets references on TV shows and stuff like that all the time,” she said.
Serhienko earned her Bachelor of Education degree in 2021 and is currently finishing her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English.
“I looked up more specifics about the program after the information session, and I knew that I wanted to apply for it when I was finished my English honours degree because I would want to study for my Master’s in English Literature if I got the scholarship.”
During her time at the U of S, she served as a peer mentor in the College of Education and was part of a research team that was transcribing The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
“Education was where my interests were, and then I got to take a lot of university English classes as part of the curriculum,” said Serhienko.
“I just love the atmosphere of English because I think it can seem like a more solitary discipline than some of the others, because you’re doing pretty much all your research on your own with a book, but it’s very collaborative. It’s like an ongoing conversation and I’ve always found that very interesting and exciting.”
She said she hopes to become a university professor in the future.
The Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford is the oldest graduate scholarship offered and among the most prestigious, the U of S release said. The scholarship will cover tuition, fees and provide a stipend for living expenses.
“Congratulations to Cassidy Serhienko, USask’s newest recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship,” said Dr. Airini, USask’s provost and vice-president academic. “The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the most prestigious student awards in the world. Outstanding students like Cassidy Serhienko exemplify the aspirations outlined in the University Plan 2025, including Distinguished Learners and Global Recognition, and further illuminate USask’s goal of being the university the world needs.”
Serhienko is among 72 U of S students that have been awarded the scholarship since 1907.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.