Bowling Green State University Athletics
Swimmer Chosen to Respresent University as Rhodes Scholarship Nominee
October 12, 2005 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 12, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Senior swimmer, Jessica Guinness has been selected as Bowling Green State University's female nominee for the Rhodes Scholarship. Guinness is majoring in biology/pre-med and has a prefect 4.0 cumulative GPA.
As a member of the swimming program, Guinness ranks 6th in the 100 freestyle, 9th in the 50 freestyle and 10th in the 200 freestyle on the Orange and Brown's All-Time Top Swimmers List. Last season she and three other Falcons were members of the 3rd place 200 freestyle relay team that broke the BGSU record at the Mid-American Conference Championships.
As a Falcon, Guinness has been named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll and was an Academic All-MAC selection.
"She understands the educational process and that grades are only the shorthand for what she is learning; she is learning for the future," said Dr. Lee Meserve, Faculty Athletic Representative.
Candidates for the Rhodes Scholarship are chosen in a three-stage process. First, candidates must be endorsed by their college or university. Next each of the fifty states will nominate candidates chosen by Committees of Selection and will go on to be interviewed by District Selection Committees in eight regions of the United States.
The first week of September, Guinness was sent a notification of eligibility and was asked to submit a pre-application to the University for review. Two weeks later Guinness was chosen to move onto the interview stage. From the pool of applicants, Guinness and a male student were given BGSU's endorsement.
The Sylvania native is currently in the process of submitting her formal application to the District Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. If chosen, Guinness will undergo another round of interviews at the district level.
If selected as a Rhodes Scholar, Guinness will be given an opportunity to study at Oxford University in Oxford, England for a span of two years. If chosen, the senior plans to concentrate in the research area of medical genetics- particularly on genes associated with cardiovascular disease.
"I love the field of cardiology, specifically cardiac surgery," said Guinness. Currently the senior is conducting research in genetics with Dr. Ron Woodruff, a Professor of Biological Sciences at BGSU.
Head coach Keri Buff is not surprised by the senior's nomination. "I have watched Jess get ideas and put them into motion," said Buff. "When she says she will research genetics and find a cure for a cardiovascular disease, she will do it."
Buff also noted the maturity of her swimmer. "She is such a well balanced person and does not just attend class to receive an A. She takes in as much as she can and will one day make a difference in the world."
"I feel so honored to even be considered for this scholarship. The University took considerable measures to make sure that they chose candidates who would have the best chance in the running, and it is still difficult for me to grasp that I am one of those candidates," said Guinness. "This is one of the most esteemed post-graduate scholarships in our country, and the majority of the national finalists are from schools such as Harvard and Yale. I would love to represent the University as a finalist."
If Guinness were to be selected, she would follow the footsteps of giants in athletics, academics, and public service, including of Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Bill Bradley of Princeton University. After playing basketball with Tigers, Bradley spent time at Oxford then moved on to a career with the NBA. Upon retiring from basketball in 1977, Bradley was elected a U.S. Senator from New Jersey in 1979.
The Rhodes Committees selects applicants on the basis of the criteria set down in the Will of Cecil Rhodes. These criteria are high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership, and physical vigor.
