Basking Ridge Native, Navy Student, Named Rhodes Scholar

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A Basking Ridge native and U.S. Naval Academy student became a Rhodes Scholar. Usadi becomes the 53rd Rhodes Scholar in the academy's history.

She is an electrical engineering major. The senior is a Bowman Scholar and one of 16 Trident Scholars in the Class of 2021, conducting research in electrical engineering and physicals focused on manipulating microbots using acoustics.

Usadi graduated from Ridge High School in 2017. She also served as an EMT with Basking Ridge Fire Co. No. 1 and EMS.

She plans to pursue a master of science in energy systems at Oxford University. Her longterm career goals include pursuing the advancement of naval science and technology through her work with submarines.

Last summer, Usadi served as the 2nd Company Commander, training incoming plebes amid the coronavirus environment. As a midshipman, she also interned at Naval Special Warfare Development Group and Sandia National Laboratories where she modeled the performance of molten salt thermal batteries.

Usadi also serves as president of the USNA Jewish Midshipmen Club, concertmaster of the Naval Academy Symphony Orchestra, pianist for the Trident Brass Jazz and Swing Band and a member of the Vietnamese Midshipmen Club. She's the associate chairman of the annual Naval Academy Science and Engineering Conference.

Rhodes Scholarships provide up to three years of study at Oxford University in England. More than 950 applicants from 288 schools received endorsements, and 32 received the scholarship this year.

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