Michigan State University has nominated four undergraduate students and two alumni for the U.S. Rhodes Scholarship. Among the six nominees are three James Madison College seniors: Anastasia Breen, Eleanor Pugh and Ashlin Stover. These Madisonians are also among MSU’s nominees for the Marshall Scholarship this year.
The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and perhaps most prestigious international scholarship program, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. Thirty-two U.S. Rhodes Scholarships are awarded annually.
MSU has produced 20 Rhodes Scholars to date. Six of those recipients have been Madisonians. The Distinguished Student Awards Office supports university nominees throughout the application process.
Results of the Rhodes Scholarship competition will be determined in November.
MSU’s nominees for the U.S. Rhodes Scholarship are:
- Anastasia Breen, a fourth-year Honors College student majoring in international relations through James Madison College and theatre through the College of Arts and Letters. Breen is from Bay City, Michigan, and attended John Glenn High School.
- Kaylin Casper, a 2026 Honors College alumna with majors in sociology through the College of Social Science, and humanities pre-law through the College of Arts and Letters, as well as an additional major in women’s and gender studies. Casper is from Burbank, California, and attended John Burroughs High School.
- Lily Dixon, a fourth-year Honors College student majoring in arts and humanities through the College of Arts and Letters, and public policy through the College of Social Science. Dixon is from Marquette, Michigan, and attended Marquette High School.
- Jerome Hamilton, a 2025 Honors College alumnus with a major in political science through the College of Social Science. Hamilton is from Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.
- Eleanor Pugh, a fourth-year Honors College student majoring in international relations through James Madison College and Russian through the College of Arts and Letters. Pugh is from Bethesda, Maryland, and attended Walt Whitman High School.
- Ashlin Stover, a fourth-year student majoring in international relations through James Madison College. Stover is from Northville, Michigan, and attended Northville High School.
These nominees represent three different degree-granting colleges across campus. Five of the six nominees are part of the MSU Honors College, either as current students or recent alumni.
Please contact Melanie Brender at brenderm@msu.edu for media inquiries on this story.