THE number two holds no particular significance for 22-year-old Se-Shauna Wheatle, save that she was declared the 2008 Jamaica Rhodes scholar on what was her second attempt at winning the prestigious scholarship.

Se-Shauna, the second child of Alethia and Junior Wheatle, and the second candidate to be interviewed at yesterday’s meeting of the selection committee at King’s House, outclassed eight of her peers – three of whom were male – to snatch the scholarship. She will be jetting off to Oxford University in the United Kingdom next year to do a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Law.

“I was shocked, I couldn’t speak for a while. I’m really quite thrilled,” she said after Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall announced her the winner.

“I feel blessed and I’m thrilled and I’m happy for all the support that I’ve been receiving. It’s just I’ve come a long way and I’m pleased,” she laughed.

Secretary of the selection committee, Peter Goldson, told the Observer why Wheatle was selected.

“Most years it’s a very difficult choice because the candidates are outstanding. This year, they were [just as] outstanding but Se-Shauna just had the edge…She showed herself to have the character, and to be able to explain her views and to reason out issues. That gave her that extra edge,” he said.

“The scholarship is made on the basis of the requirements of the will of Cecil Rhodes which speaks to high intellectual standards, leadership standards, concern for the weak and someone who is likely to make a great impact to the public good and Se-Shauna displayed those qualities and if you speak to her you’ll see that she’s very thoughtful, very concerned about Jamaica and human rights in Jamaica and other issues and she just very much impressed the committee,” Goldson said.

Wheatle is currently doing a Certificate in Legal Education at the Norman Manley Law School and should graduate next year. Prior to that, she graduated with first class honours from the Bachelor of Laws programme at the University of the West Indies.