Congratulations to Naval Academy Midshipman 1st Class Caroline P. Barlow of Jacksonville, Fla., who has been selected as a 2011 Rhodes Scholar. Nearly 1,000 applicants from over 300 schools around the U.S. competed for one of the 32 scholarships awarded.

Barlow is currently ranked third in her class academically with a 3.94 GPA.  An honors oceanography major, Barlow is the fall semester brigade commander in charge of the approximately 4,400 member Brigade of Midshipmen. She was a member of the academy’s 2009 National Collegiate Champion Coed Triathlon team.

Barlow is expected to graduate in May 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in oceanography and a commission as a Navy ensign. As a result of the scholarship, Barlow will attend a two-year graduate program at Oxford University in England. She hopes to pursue a Master of Science in environmental change and management.

Once she completes her graduate education, Barlow plans to serve as a Navy surface warfare officer.

Barlow is the first academy midshipmen selected for the Rhodes Scholarship since the 2007-2008 academic year and the only 2011 selectee from a service academy.

For more information about the Naval Academy, visit www.usna.edu.