Commitment to volunteering and public service wins Victorian Rhodes Scholarship for Melbourne graduate

Image of James Maccarrone with his family.
2018 Victorian Rhodes Scholarship winner, James Maccarrone, pictured with his family after the award ceremony.Image: Louise Bennet

University of Melbourne graduate James Maccarrone has been awarded the 2018 Victorian Rhodes Scholarship for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.

His selection was announced today by Selection Committee member and next year’s Deputy Chair of the Victorian Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, Dr Evelyn Chan, on behalf of the Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau.

Mr Maccarrone completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) majoring in Economics with First Class Honours.

Melbourne-born Mr Maccarrone is the recipient of several university scholarships, academic awards and other prizes and exhibitions. He is also an accomplished violinist, university debater and community volunteer who teaches migrant and refugee children.

Mr Maccarrone said he was thrilled to receive the prestigious scholarship and plans to undertake a BA in Jurisprudence with Senior Status at Oxford.

“From a young age, the value and power of quality education has been central to my worldview,” he said.

“It is my ultimate aim to dedicate myself to the advancement of public policy in Australia and internationally. The Rhodes Scholarship provides an incredible opportunity to realise this vision through being immersed in Oxford’s academically-rich environment and learning from others about their leadership experiences.”

Congratulating Mr Maccarrone, Professor Carolyn Evans, Honorary Secretary of the Victorian Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, said: “James impressed the panel with his exceptional academic results and his capacity to combine excellence in his course with leadership and community engagement.

“He was an articulate and thoughtful candidate with a strong set of insights into current affairs and a deep commitment to public service in the interests of the wider community. We are delighted to welcome James into the Rhodes community.”

The Governor said it was her pleasure to announce James Maccarrone as the 2018 Victorian Rhodes Scholar, adding that the Selection Committee had a difficult role of choosing "excellence from amongst excellence" and congratulating Monash graduate Jia Hui Lee and University of Melbourne Bachelor of Arts (Hons) graduate Brigid O'Farrell-White on proceeding to the Australia-at-Large selection process in Canberra next month.