You might say that Kevin Tobia is a Renaissance man. He graduates from Rutgers next month with degrees in philosophy, cognitive science and mathematics and is then off to the University of Oxford in England after being named one of only 15 students in the world to receive a full two-year graduate school scholarship bequeathed in the name of the founder of Atlantic Records and his wife.
Tobia, a 22-year-old Chatham resident whose parents both graduated from Rutgers in 1982, was thrilled to find out he was selected. “I’ve never lived outside of New Jersey so thiswill be quite different,” he said. “It is going to expand my vision of the world, and I think it is going to be an incredible experience.”
Tobia received the scholarship – which will cover tuition and living expenses – after being accepted into the philosophy program at Oxford. He was recognized for his academic achievements at Rutgers by a committee of Oxford’s humanities division that reviews the academic records of all those accepted into the program before making its final selection.
The scholarship is named for the late music mogul Ahmet Ertegun who helped shape the careers of music legends like Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones and his widow, Mica.
“My dream is that one day, Ertegun Scholars will be leaders in every field – as historians, philosophers, as archaeologists and literary scholars, as writers and composers, as statesmen and theologians,” said Mica Ertegun, who instituted the scholarship to help provide financial support to the best humanities scholars in the world.
Tobia, a classical pianist who works as a DJ in his spare time, wasn’t aware of the $26 million gift to Oxford – the biggest donation for humanities students in the university’s 900-year history. He finds it is somewhat ironic that he received the scholarship from the estate of a man whose life was centered on the music industry.
“I’ve been playing the piano since I was in first grade,” said Tobia, whose experience as a musician led to his selection as the musical director for a Livingston Theatre Company production his junior year. “In high school I played every week at church, and when I got to college I played in the dorm. Although I didn’t major in music, whenever I want to unwind and relieve some stress, I play the piano.”
(click here to read the rest of the article on the SAS website)
