UNLV senior Steve Igleheart made it to the final national selection stage for the 1999 Rhodes Scholarship competition.

"We know from conversations with members of the district committee that Steve made a strong showing among the 12 nominees there although he ultimately was not one of the four students selected from the district this past weekend," said UNLV English professor John Bowers, who chaired the Nevada State Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee. "We are proud of Steve and know he represented UNLV and Nevada well."

Igleheart, a student in UNLV's Honors College who is majoring in biochemistry and psychology, is an accomplished poet, according to Sue Reimondo, assistant dean of the Honors College.

"Steve remains committed to finding a way to study overseas after he graduates in May," Reimondo said. "He is a finalist for the new George J. Mitchell Scholarship endowed by the government of Ireland, so that may pave the way for him to study abroad."

Bowers said he was told by long-time members of the Rhodes district committee that they never had seen such a strong pool of candidates. "Steve remained a real contender to the very end," he said.

A second UNLV student, Elisabeth Kang, was among the four candidates interviewed at the state level. She is a senior majoring in accounting. She also is a member of Honors College.

For additional information, call Bowers at 895-3533.