Somesh Sharma named Jamaica’s 2027 Rhodes Scholar
Secretary of the Jamaica Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, Mariame McIntosh Robinson (right), shares a moment with the 2027 Rhodes Scholar, Somesh Sharma, following Thursday’s (Nov. 12) announcement at King’s House. Photo: JIS
Key Points(5)
- Somesh Sharma is Jamaica’s 2027 Rhodes Scholar.
- Custos of Kingston Steadman Fuller, deputizing for Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, made the announcement during a brief ceremony at King’s House on Thursday, Nov.
- The governor-general is chairman of the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee.
- Twenty-two-year-old Somesh was among seven candidates, two women and five men, who vied for the prestigious scholarship.
- Somesh Sharma: A Young Trailblazer in Science and Innovation | The Faculty of Science and Technology mona.uwi.edu Finalists for the 2027 Rhodes Scholarship during Thursday’s (Nov.
Somesh Sharma is Jamaica’s 2027 Rhodes Scholar.
Custos of Kingston Steadman Fuller, deputizing for Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, made the announcement during a brief ceremony at King’s House on Thursday, Nov. 12.
The governor-general is chairman of the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee.
Twenty-two-year-old Somesh was among seven candidates, two women and five men, who vied for the prestigious scholarship.
Finalists for the 2027 Rhodes Scholarship during Thursday’s (Nov. 12) announcement at King’s House. Photo: JIS
A former student of St. Ann’s Bay High School and York Castle High School in St. Ann, he holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in medical physics from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, and was the 2026 valedictorian for the Faculty of Science and Technology.
He will undertake studies in medical physics with radiobiology and applied digital health at the University of Oxford.
Speaking with JIS News, the Rhodes Scholar said he is grateful for the opportunity afforded to him.
“I am feeling very happy, elated. I can’t believe it. I am very thankful to receive this award. It’s been an incredible journey,” he shared.
Somesh said he is looking to contribute to Jamaica’s healthcare system.
“By attending Oxford, the world’s most renowned university for medicine, I hope to bring those skillsets back into Jamaica,” he said.
Secretary of the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee Mariame McIntosh Robinson told JIS News that this year’s candidate pool was “very inspiring”.
“We had a broad cross-section of finalists. What I think we were very inspired by, apart from the wide diversity of candidates, is just the impact that they are already making. These are Jamaicans who are in their early twenties, who are very convicted about a particular area,” she said.
The Rhodes Scholarship, based at the University of Oxford, was established in 1903 and is the world’s oldest and most prestigious graduate fellowship.
It has been awarded annually to one outstanding applicant from Jamaica since 1904.
The selection process seeks to identify young individuals who demonstrate academic excellence, exceptional character, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges.
The process includes a meticulous review of applications, followed by finalist interviews conducted by a selection committee comprising Rhodes alumni and distinguished leaders from diverse fields.
