Naperville North Grad Named Rhodes Scholar

NAPERVILLE, IL --- A Naperville North alumna is among a record number of women who have been named Rhodes scholars in 2018. Kristiana Yao, 22, who graduated in 2014, is one of 21 females to be awarded the prestigious scholarship according to a press release.

Yao, who earned her undergraduate degrees with honors from the University of Miami, is currently working as a Dunn Fellow with the Illinois government handling policy issues that range from health care to public safety. Since graduating from Naperville North, Yao has also interned at the White House.

Yao plans to use her distinction as Rhodes scholar to pursue a masters of science degree in comparative social policy at Oxford University.

Each year, the Rhodes Trust awards two-year scholarships to exceptional students to study at Oxford University. Yao and this year's other winners were picked from over 2,500 students throughout the U.S. based on criteria such as academic excellence and a desire to make a positive social impact with their work.

Image via GoogleMaps Streetview