KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tiana Shante Dinham has been awarded the prestigious title of Jamaica Rhodes Scholar for 2026. Selected from a competitive pool of eight finalists, Dinham’s achievement was announced following a rigorous evaluation by the 2026 Jamaica Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee on Thursday. A former student of Mount Alvernia High School in Hanover, Dinham is currently pursuing Geological and Earth Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her commitment to sustainability is evident through her initiative, RISE (Rainwater Initiative for Sustainability and Empowerment), which collaborates with the Hanover Health Department to fund and install water tanks in underserved communities. Recipients are also trained in water collection, treatment, and storage practices. Dinham plans to further her education with a master’s degree in water science, policy and management, and sustainability, enterprise, and the environment. In October 2026, she will join over 100 global scholars at the University of Oxford, undertaking fully funded postgraduate studies. Established in 1902, the Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s oldest and most esteemed international scholarship program, fostering a community of leaders dedicated to global betterment. This year’s selection committee, chaired by Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, included distinguished alumni and academics such as Mariame McIntosh Robinson, Professor Trevor Munroe, and Dr. Nadiya Figueroa. Notable Jamaican Rhodes Scholars include Norman Manley, Rex Nettleford, and current Minister of Finance Dr. Nigel Clarke.