BC enters the ranks of Rhodes colleges

"We've been finalists on so many occasions, but we've never won -- we're very proud," said Jack Dunn, a BC spokesman. "I think this is finally a well-deserved recognition of our academic status among the nation's best and most celebrated universities."

Boston College students Paul A. Taylor and Brett T. Huneycutt will join 30 other Rhodes scholars at Oxford University next October for two to three years of study, complete with full scholarships and living allowances. A dozen of the recipients have New England ties, with Harvard College producing four scholars this year, Williams College two, and Boston University and Wellesley College one each. One Stanford University scholar hails from Weston, Conn., and one Brown University scholar is from Belmont.

The Rhodes Scholarships were established in 1902 by the will of British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes, who hoped recipients would make positive contributions to the world.

Approximately 95 scholars are chosen worldwide each year. This year, there were 963 applicants endorsed by 366 colleges and universities. They were judged on the basis of high academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership potential, and physical vigor, among other attributes.

"It's such a difficult thing," said Taylor, who planned to celebrate last night with cake and champagne. "It hasn't really set in yet."

The double major in physics and classics plans to study theoretical astrophysics at Oxford, perhaps focusing on the physical processes in a neutron star.

Huneycutt graduated at the top of his BC class last year and is now a Fulbright scholar in El Salvador. He is doing economic research on the role of migrant remittances from the United States in the Salvadoran community. At Oxford, he plans to continue his economic studies.

Rhodes candidates went through two grueling rounds of interviews before the final selection Saturday.

"It's pretty intense," reflected Emily P. Ludwig, 21, a senior history major at Williams College. "When I applied for this, it was like a long shot."

At Oxford, Ludwig plans to study the social history of medicine in 19th century Britain. "How did they define self vs. other, clean vs. unclean?" she explained. "I think we have a lot to learn from the British colonial experience."

The other Williams College scholar, Jeffrey Ishizuka, plans to study medical sciences at Oxford, in pursuit of an HIV vaccine.

Richard A. Malins, the BU scholar, has done research on Alzheimer's disease, is a violinist in the university orchestra, and plans to study human anatomy and genetics at Oxford.

The most recent Rhodes scholar at BU was in 1999.

"We couldn't be more pleased," BU spokesman Colin Riley said. "We're obviously very proud of the achievement."

The Wellesley scholar, Heather E. Long, is a double major in economics and Spanish and plans to study modern history and English at Oxford. Jared A. Cohen, the Stanford student from Weston, Conn., has worked and traveled in 21 African countries and plans to pursue a doctorate in African studies at Oxford. Brown University student Olivia Rissland edits the university's Classics journal and has gained distinction in mathematics and science. Rissland, who hails from Belmont, hopes to earn a doctorate in biology from Oxford.

Harvard's Alexander Pollen, of Lexington, plans to study how species conservation laws affect environmental stability. He also plans to do biological research.

"I had thought about what I'd do if I got it, but it never seemed that likely," said Pollen, 21.

"I want to influence environmental policy."

Another Harvard student, Rachael A. Wagner, 21, of Virginia Beach, Va., said she's excited about Oxford's ancient buildings and traditions. Wagner plans to focus on international development. "Harvard is old, but everything [at Oxford] is a thousand years old."

Harvard's two other Rhodes scholars are government major Dov Fox, author of "The Harvard Mystique," and Pooja Kumar, a medical student who has worked with refugees in central Africa and Azerbaijan. Harvard also had four Rhodes scholars last year. "There are few honors as significant as being selected a Rhodes scholar," said Harvard College Dean Benedict Gross in a statement released in response to Globe inquiries. "It is very exciting for the entire Harvard community."

Over at BC, administrators made up press releases and gave media interviews immediately after the Rhodes scholars were announced.

"It's funny. We're Boston's college, and people know us and like us, but we're often overshadowed in our own backyard," said Dunn, the spokesman. "Harvard doesn't send out press releases for this, I think."

Donovan Slack can be reached at dslack@globe.com.