Madison Reporter

University of Wisconsin–Madison seniors Felicity Klingele and Sophie Boes were among the finalists for the Rhodes Scholarship this year. The Rhodes Trust announced 32 winners on November 16, while an additional 206 American students, including Klingele and Boes, were named as finalists.

Klingele, from Madison, Wisconsin, is pursuing a double major in psychology and philosophy. She is set to complete her bachelor's degree in December. Boes, hailing from Rochester, Minnesota, is double majoring in political science and English language and linguistics. She will graduate in May 2025.

Julie Stubbs, director of UW–Madison’s Undergraduate Academic Awards Office stated: “Felicity and Sophie should be very proud of all they’ve accomplished — it is an immense honor to make it to the finalist stage for the Rhodes Scholarship.” Stubbs highlighted their commitment to community welfare as aligned with both the Wisconsin Idea and the Rhodes Scholarship's values.

Klingele began her college education at age 15 at Madison College before transferring to UW–Madison. She has been recognized with UW–Madison’s Charles Manthey Winter Philosophy Scholarship and co-founded the UW–Madison Philosophical Society. Her involvement extends to being a fellow for UW’s Catholic Social and Political Thought Initiative and founding women's groups at Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center.

Boes has received eight institutional merit awards, including the Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Her research contributions include authorship on a presentation at the International Conference of Experimental Linguistics in Athens, Greece. In addition to academic pursuits, she volunteers as a childcare specialist at a community center supporting families affected by child sexual abuse.

Rhodes Scholarships cover expenses for study at the University of Oxford in England. Candidates are evaluated based on academic achievement, character integrity, leadership ability, and energy to utilize their talents fully.