http://www.usma.edu/publicaffairs/PV/050107/rhodes.htm
January 7, 2005
Singapore cadet named 84th USMA Rhodes Scholar
By James Fox
Assistant Editor
Cadet 1st Class Jin Wang Photo by DOIM CIB
Cadet 1st Class Jin Wang, one of the academys 47 international
cadets, and one of four cadets who hail from Singapore, was named
his countrys Rhodes Scholar for 2005.
Wang, a civil engineering major here, will study toward a second
Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at
Oxford beginning in October.
The 24-year-old former platoon leader with the 1st Commando
Battalion of the Singapore Armed Forces said he was extremely happy
and enlightened to know that all his hard work has finally paid
off.
The current Cadet Command Sgt. Maj. for 2nd Regiment said his
studies in England will provide the essential intellectual
foundation for a career in public service, first as an Army officer
commissioned with the task of providing national security and
ultimately as a policymaker responsible for developing sound
economic and governmental policies.
Wang is the 84th West Point cadet, and second from Singapore, to be
named a Rhodes Scholar since the academy began competing in
1923.
The H-2 Hornet said he came to West Point to develop his leadership
principles, something which earned him the distinction of being the
first international cadet posted to a command leadership position
in the summer when he was named the battalion commander for
Operation Highland Warrior last year.
Being at West Point also allows me to meet many different people
from all over the United States, he added.
He hopes to extend his relationships with other cultures at
Oxford.
I relish the opportunity to forge friendships with classmates from
different countries, he said, To engage them intellectually, to
learn from their unique views and broaden my own, and to experience
other cultures.
The two-and-a-half-year veteran of the SAF said he will return to
Singapore after graduation and serve as a staff officer with the
headquarters of his former unit.
Wang was a member of the cadet mountaineering team his first two
years at West Point and is the secretary for the International
Cadet Club.
He flew home to Singapore over the holidays to spend Christmas and
the New Year with his family and friends who were spared the
devastating effects of the Indian Ocean tsunami, which did not
dramatically impact his country, he said.
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Am surprised that the local papers only published this recently. He
has done Singapore proud at West Point.
