Three Yale College seniors who have both excelled academically and demonstrated a commitment to social impact have received 2026 Rhodes scholarships, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious academic awards for graduate study. Yale was one of four schools with at least three recipients.
Noah B. Tirschwell, from Dobbs Ferry, New York; Aruna B. Balasubramanian, from Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania; and August A. Rios, from Bluffton, South Carolina, are among 32 American recipients, the Rhodes Trust announced on Nov. 15.
The scholarships provide comprehensive funding for two to three years of study at the University of Oxford.
Additional international recipients will be announced in the coming days.
The Rhodes Scholars chosen from the United States will join an international group of scholars chosen from 25 other Rhodes Scholar jurisdictions around the world, and two global scholars from countries not represented by these jurisdictions. More than 100 Rhodes Scholars will be selected worldwide this year, including international students who have attended American colleges and universities but have applied through their home country.
All of this year's scholars will begin graduate study at Oxford, across a range of disciplines, in October 2026.
Created in 1902 by the will of Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes scholarships are provided in partnership with the Second Century Founders, John McCall MacBain O.C., the Atlantic Philanthropies, and many other benefactors. "Academic excellence is essential" as a basis for selecting Rhodes scholars, said Ramona L. Doyle, American secretary of the Rhodes Trust, "but it is only the beginning."
"A Rhodes scholar should demonstrate ambition for social impact, strong leadership, empathy for others, and an acute awareness of inequities," Doyle said. "The trust seeks scholars of exceptional character who are committed to making a profound difference in the world. A Rhodes scholar should show great promise of leadership and character, as well as an exceptionally strong commitment to service."
Biographies of Yale's 2026 Rhodes scholars follow:
Noah B. Tirschwell is a Yale College senior majoring in history and philosophy. As a junior, he was nominated to Phi Beta Kappa. He is co-president of the Yale Hillel Student Board, a peer tutor, and serves on an advisory committee fostering constructive dialogue at Yale. As a leader of Yale's first-year outdoor orientation trips, he guided backpacking trips for incoming undergraduates along the Appalachian Trail.
At Oxford, Tirschwell intends to pursue a Master of Studies (M.St.) degree in history and an M.St. in Jewish Studies.
Aruna B. Balasubramanian, is a Yale senior completing double majors in anthropology and history. Her senior thesis examines the role that the arts can play in rural development and focuses on a Japanese fishing village that has developed a system of art galleries to help boost the local economy. She has published multiple peer-reviewed articles and is the founder and editor-in-chief of the country's first digital humanities journal for undergraduates. She is also a trainee and guide at the Yale Center for British Art.
At Oxford, Balasubramanian will pursue a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in global and area studies.
August A. Rios is a Yale senior majoring in sociology. His academic work has focused on urban sociology with a particular emphasis on housing policy; in 2025, he received the Truman Scholarship, which recognizes aspiring public service leaders. He serves as a commissioner on the New Haven Affordable Housing Commission and co-founded a student organization at Yale to provide free legal information to Connecticut residents in small claims court. While completing his undergraduate studies, Rios also obtained a real-estate license and worked with first-time homebuyers.
At Oxford, Rios will pursue a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in comparative social policy followed by an M.Sc. in evidence-based social policy intervention and policy evaluation.
