Iolani graduate chosen to be a Rhodes Scholar
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Iolani graduate and Boston University senior Rick Malins of Pearl City is among 32 U.S. college students selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2004.
Malins, 21, will enter the University of Oxford in England in October, on the centennial of the first class of America Rhodes Scholars.
"There's the excitement of the future, of going to Oxford, and sympathy for the people who didn't get it," Rick Malins said.
Malins said yesterday that he went into Saturday's interview round feeling his chances were not good.
"Everyone was truly incredible," he said of the 12 District 8 finalists in San Francisco.
"I had convinced myself that I wasn't going to get it, so I went in relaxed. When I came out of the interview, I knew it had gone well."
Malins was announced as one of four District 8 winners on Sunday. A total of 32 American college students were selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2004.
"I felt a lot of emotions," Malins said yesterday from Boston. "There's the excitement of the future, of going to Oxford, and sympathy for the people who didn't get it."
Malins is scheduled to graduate in May with degrees in chemistry and neuroscience. He plans to continue his research on Alzheimer's disease in Boston during the summer before heading off to Oxford.
"What I'm really interested in is exploring the function of the human brain, and how the chemical reaction on the molecular structure is translated into behavior," he said.
Rick is the second of the four children of Chester Malins, a submariner retired from the Navy in October, and Chris Malins, assistant principal at Holy Family Catholic Academy. Both are natives of Corpus Christi, Texas.
Older brother Jeff and younger brother James are Iolani graduates, and sister Lara is a junior at Iolani.
The Malins children all excelled academically, said Chris Malins. "They're all goal-oriented and self-motivated," she said.
In addition to academics, Rick directed, designed, managed or acted in 25 stage productions in college. He played viola for the Boston University orchestra and tutored and coached disadvantaged children.
Saturday's half-hour interview went beyond academics, Rick Malins said. "It started out scientific, but they're looking for people with certain characteristics and personality traits."
He joins a diverse group, including a female former wing commander who led 4,000 cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy, a political science major who worked with refugees in the Balkans and Afghanistan, and a national Frisbee champion who was a contributing scientist on a NASA Mars mission.
Rhodes Scholarships, created in 1902 by the will of British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes, select winners on the basis of academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership potential and physical vigor, among other things.
The American students will join a group chosen from 18 other nations. Approximately 95 scholars are selected annually.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.
