Princeton University senior Osamede Ogbomo and alumnus Matthew Wilson from the Class of 2024 have been awarded the John and Daria Barry Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. The scholarship, established in 2019, “is awarded to the leading students of the United States of America in recognition of their dedication to the pursuit of truth,” according to a statement by Barry Scholars. It covers full funding for at least two years, including tuition, living expenses, and yearly stipends for research and travel.
Osamede Ogbomo, majoring in politics, will pursue an MPhil in politics (political theory) at Oxford. Her senior thesis explores themes such as ambition, authority, and morality in contemporary political life through the biblical story of King David. She stated that her work “places the biblical story of King David within the broader tradition of political thought (evoking thinkers from Plato and Aristotle to Machiavelli and James Madison).”
Ogbomo is involved with Princeton’s Debate Panel and American Whig-Cliosophic Society. She looks forward to attending Oxford Union debates next year. Additionally, she serves as a James Madison Program undergraduate fellow, teaches piano at Princeton’s Lewis Center for the Arts, advises residents at New College West, and manages campus activities for Act One.
Matthew Wilson graduated with a major in politics along with certificates in medieval studies and Hellenic studies. He will also pursue an MPhil in politics (political theory) at Oxford. Currently serving as deputy editor and interim managing editor for Public Discourse at the Witherspoon Institute, he works as a research assistant under Robert P. George.
Wilson received recognition for his senior thesis on religiously associated political arguments through the Stephen Whelan ’68 Senior Thesis Prize for Excellence in Constitutional Law and Political Thought. He expressed enthusiasm about studying analytic political philosophy at Oxford while participating with Canterbury Institute activities.
At Princeton, Wilson held roles such as treasurer of Aquinas Institute, columnist for The Daily Princetonian, Cliosophic party chair within American Whig-Cliosophic Society among others. After completing his studies at Oxford he aims to pursue a Ph.D. focusing on political philosophy.
