Arts & Sciences

Seniors Darden, Seiler were Rhodes Scholars finalists

(Left) Elijah Darden is a Rodriguez Scholar, president of WashU’s Emergency Support Team and a talented musician and composer. Darden wants to reduce health disparities through community education programs. (Right) Truman Scholar Isaac Seiler has researched the decline of local newsrooms in liberal democracies. He aspires to serve in Congress as a champion of public interest journalism.(Photos: Theo Welling/WashU)

Washington University in St. Louis seniors Elijah Darden and Isaac Seiler were both Rhodes Scholars finalists, one of the world’s highest academic honors.

Darden, 22, is majoring in psychological and brain sciences and minoring in music, both in Arts & Sciences. He is a member of the Rodriguez Scholars program and president of WashU’s Emergency Support Team (EST), the student-run emergency medicine organization. Darden aspires to be a physician and develop effective community education programs that reduce health disparities in various populations.

Seiler, 22, is majoring in sociology and minoring in political science, both in Arts & Sciences, and won the Truman Scholarship earlier this year. Seiler hopes to one day run for public office and enact policies that protect and propagate local news outlets. 

Chancellor Andrew D. Martin said Darden and Seiler already have made substantial contributions to their respective fields.

“Elijah and Isaac are both impressive leaders, scholars and changemakers,” Martin said. “I am confident each will make a big impact addressing the critical problems that they have identified.” 

Washington University has had 30 Rhodes Scholars, including Victoria (Tori) Harwell, AB ’24, who won the scholarship last year. 

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