Sara Alkelani from Greenville, South Carolina, is Clemson University’s second Rhodes scholarship finalist in the past two years.

Alkelani is currently a senior at Clemson, double-majoring in political science and sociology. She is the proud daughter of Syrian immigrants who settled in Greenville when her father started working for BMW Industries. Her mother opened up her own school in the area.

When she reached her senior year at Greenville Technical Charter High School, Alkelani didn’t originally plan to continue her studies at Clemson. Her acceptance into the National Scholars Program at Clemson became a decisive factor, launching her into the world of university-level scholarship.

Alkelani is a member of the Clemson University Honors College and a Dixon Global Policy scholar. This program is specially designed for honors students who plan to apply for a major fellowship such as the Rhodes scholarship.

The small group of selected students travels to Europe to engage in courses focused on economics, philosophy, politics and public policy, according to their website.

“At first I … felt like a little bit on the outskirts, just because I am a hijabi student, and so a lot of students don’t look like me,” Alkelani said in an interview.

However, she reached out despite her apprehensiveness. “And the thing about Clemson is the second you put yourself out there, you do find community,” she said.

She utilized one of her passions, community service, with the aim of building a sense of community for herself and those around her.

During her first year on campus, Alkelani found friendship in the people she met when rushing Alpha Phi Omega.

However, what she really desired was to get involved in immigration and refugee work. Around this time, Angela Naimou, Ph.D., from Clemson’s English department, was starting up a Creative Inquiry called Every Campus A Refuge.

What started as a CI has blossomed into an impactful campus organization that supports resettlement efforts for refugees in the Clemson area, according to its website.

Through meaningful interactions and connection to resources, such as home visits, excursions to Y Beach and learning how to use the CATbus, the organization seeks to help people feel more connected and at home.

Alkelani shared a story about a little girl from a family that the organization has been working with for the past three years. When Alkelani received her Clemson ring, the 6-year-old took it off and placed it on her finger, proudly announcing that she also plans to attend Clemson someday.

Alkelani attributes her confidence to the efforts that ECAR has made in the past few years to extend the welcome to these families.

Alkelani was also recently awarded the Omicron Delta Kappa Service to Society award.

Academically, Alkelani’s plan has always been to pursue a law degree to become an immigration lawyer or policy advocate. By combining studies in political science and sociology, she has gained a more human perspective on the world of politics.

On campus, she holds multiple positions in undergraduate government councils, in addition to serving on the student advisory boards for the Honors College and the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences.

Alkelani spent the summer of 2024 as an intern with the Arab American Institute, a policy think tank in Washington, D.C.

This past summer, she was a Capitol Hill intern under Senator Tim Kaine, which provided her with the opportunity to learn even more about government.

In her involvement on campus and beyond, Alkelani seeks to highlight people’s lived experiences. As a Dixon Global Policy scholar, Alkelani was able to find what policy issue she wanted to focus on, which helped her prepare for fellowship applications.

She connected with the Office of Major Fellowships early on. When it was suggested that she was a good candidate for the Rhodes scholarship, she was initially intimidated by the proposition.

Throughout her time at Clemson, Alkelani has refined her abilities as a storyteller, a role she takes very seriously. The process of applying for the Rhodes scholarship is something that Alkelani is incredibly grateful for.

The Rhodes scholarship is over 120 years old, and was established in 1902 with the will of Cecil John Rhodes. Throughout its history, the scholarship has risen to high esteem and is now regarded as one of the most prestigious and respected international scholarship programs in the world.

Rhodes scholars are distinguished by their intellectual prowess and visionary servant-leadership capabilities. The Rhodes Trust recognizes the importance of these skills in the modern world.

Rhodes scholars are chosen for their academic excellence, involvement in extracurricular activities, passion for service and strong moral character, according to the Rhodes Trust.

The merit-based scholarship provides students with the opportunity and funding to study at the University of Oxford for two or more years in a postgraduate program. It seeks to promote the greater good on a global scale by empowering students to lead with integrity.

Alkelani’s plan of study includes refugee and forced migration studies, as well as public policy. Her efforts in writing essays and collecting recommendations for her application culminated in her selection as one of 16 regional finalists for the prestigious award.

After an interview round this past weekend, only two students were selected for the scholarship. Unfortunately, Alkelani was not one of them.

Alkelani’s participation in the process has prompted her to gain a deeper understanding of herself and her motivators.

She is extremely appreciative of various members of the University’s faculty who have supported her in this journey, including: Naimou, the driving force behind Clemson ECAR; Jeff Fine, Ph.D., senior associate dean of Clemson Honors College, who also leads the Dixon Global Policy scholars program; Robyn Curtis, director of the Office of Major Fellowship, who prepared her for the interview stage; and Sarah Winslow, Ph.D., dean of Clemson Honors College, who originally selected her to become a member of the National Scholars Program.

“So those are four people, but it’s a whole community of people that really got me where I am … I’ve never had such a great group of cheerleaders,” Alkelani told The Tiger at the conclusion of her interview.