Exceptional Scholar Secures UK Rhodes scholarship, set to bag masters degree at University of Oxford for free

Elijah C. DeVaughn Jr., a remarkable California teenager, has been granted the prestigious Rhodes scholarship to pursue his master's degree at the University of Oxford in England.

Elijah, while still a student at Harvard University, secured his place among the 32 students selected for the 2020 scholarship cohort. His exceptional academic performance and contributions to society earned him this prestigious scholarship to the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Growing up in a single-parent household with his mother working as a teacher and his father serving a 13-year prison sentence away from the family, Elijah faced adversity. Despite the challenges, he drew inspiration from his mother's hard work and his father's experiences, which drove him to seek a better life for himself.

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Elijah explained his perspective, saying, "When I pray to God at night, I say, 'I don't thank you for placing my dad in jail, but I thank you for the life you've given me, even if that's a part of it. Because it ignites that fire, you know? It pushes you to wanna achieve more, wanna do more."

His admission to Harvard, renowned as one of the most challenging universities in the country, was a testament to the principle that hard work yields success. Throughout his time at Harvard, he persevered and continued his journey of excellence.

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Elijah's ambitions at Oxford include further exploration of his interest in criminal justice reform by studying the respective journeys of Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X to the UK during the 19th and 20th centuries. He views criminal justice reform as a pivotal civil rights issue of this generation and aims to follow in the footsteps of Douglass and X by building transnational coalitions to address contemporary challenges.

Elijah also founded EJayyTalks, a lecture series in Compton aimed at inspiring and mentoring youth. His contributions gained recognition and accolades on campus. Additionally, he served as the Co-Chair of the Fellows Study Group program at Harvard's Institute of Politics.

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Elijah's journey from adversity to academic excellence is an inspiring story of determination and achievement, proving that hard work and resilience can open doors to success.