Paul Boland, a second-year medical student at Memorial University, has been named the latest Rhodes Scholar from Newfoundland and Labrador. The 23-year-old Corner Brook native attended Sir Wilfred Grenfell College from 2000-01, completing a B.Sc.(Hons) in Biochemistry at the St. John's campus. He has won numerous academic awards including the Governor General's Medal and the University Medal for Academic Excellence in Biochemistry. He was on the SWGC Principal's List 2000-01, the Faculty of Science Dean's List from 2001 to 2003 inclusive and the Faculty of Medicine Dean's List for 2004.

Mr. Boland is also an accomplished athlete. He is currently a member of the Corner Brook Barons Senior All-Star Baseball Team. He was the 2001 City of Corner Brook Junior Male Athlete of the Year and the 2001 Newfoundland Amateur Baseball Association Junior Male Player of the Year. He has represented Newfoundland and Labrador at national tournaments on five separate occasions and was the 2005 Coach of Corner Brook Barons Mosquito All-Start Baseball Team. At medical school he has been active in volunteer activities, co-chairing the 2005 Monte Carlo Gambling Committee and volunteering as a blackjack dealer. He was also a 2005 participant in the Janeway Reading Club.

At Oxford, Mr. Boland plans to pursue a graduate degree in cardiovascular research at the Oxford Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine and play for Oxford Kings Baseball Club. He has never been to Europe before and is excited about beginning life at Oxford in September.

The Rhodes Scholarship has been awarded in Newfoundland since 1904 and Mr. Boland is the 98th nominee in the province. There were no nominees during the Second World War.