Pasadena's Anthony Payne announced as next Rhodes Scholar

ST. JOHN'S, Dec. 2, 2013 /CNW/ - Anthony Payne of Pasadena has been selected as the next Rhodes Scholar from Newfoundland and Labrador. He will commence post graduate studies at the University of Oxford in England in 2014. Mr. Payne, 22, has completed a Bachelor of Music (Honours) with a Minor in Statistics at Memorial University of Newfoundland with a 4.0 grade point average, winning the 2013 Dr. Maureen Volk Award for the top student in music and the University Medal for Academic Excellence in Music, while at the same time fulfilling requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Statistics. Mr. Payne maintains a GPA of 3.97 in science and will complete his Bachelor of Science in Statistics in May, 2014.

While at Oxford, Mr. Payne will pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics with a research focus in applied probability. Mr. Payne's passion for statistics is fuelled by his vision of applying new knowledge and techniques to research in order to make a beneficial difference to individuals and to society as a whole. He is currently conducting research focused on statistical genetics, looking specifically at environmental and genetic interactions contributing to obesity in Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Payne's research is funded by the Research and Development Corporation (RDC) of Newfoundland and Labrador and The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and is supervised by Dr. Taraneh Abarin.

Mr. Payne has studied piano seriously for nine years and is an accomplished choral singer, having been selected to the Memorial University of Newfoundland Chamber Choir and the National Youth Choir of Canada. He was elected treasurer of Memorial University's Student Music Society for the 2011-2012 academic year and elected co-president for the 2012-2013 academic year. As co-president, Mr. Payne was instrumental establishing a Student Music Society Scholarship and raising an endowment of more than $10,000 for this cause. The first SMS Scholarship was awarded in the fall of 2012.

Mr. Payne serves as Alumnus Representative on the Tuckamore Festival Marketing Committee and has served as Student Representative on the MUN School of Music Choral Search Committee. He has earned scholarships and awards from the Statistical Society of Canada, Society of Actuaries, Yvonne Belanger Memorial Bursary, Dr. Hugh O'Neill Prize in Piano, Dr. Andreas Barban Memorial Scholarship, Mrs. Grace Morgan Scholarship in Music, Centenary of Responsible Government Scholarship, MUN Alumni Entrance Scholarship, R.F. (Bob) MacLeod Memorial Entrance Scholarship in Music, and Mary C. Whitely Entrance Scholarship in Music.

In addition to his work as research assistant, Mr. Payne works as Ramp Attendant for Porter Airlines in St. John's and has worked as Student Assistant Supervisor/Audio and Video Technician and Undergraduate Career Experience Program Research Assistant at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Mr. Payne is also an avid baseball and softball player, bowler and most recently, squash player.

The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford, one of the top universities in England. It is widely considered the world's most prestigious scholarship. Scholarship founder Cecil Rhodes stated that a scholar must exhibit: proven intellectual and academic attainment of a high standard, integrity of character, sympathy for and protection of the weak, the ability to lead and the energy to use their talent to the full.

SOURCE: Newfoundland and Labrador Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee

Chris Flanagan, Director, Marketing & Communications
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