Tyrese Bender of Fairfax tapped as 2021 Rhodes Scholar - one of two from West Point

United States Military Academy at West Point, NY announced the Rhodes Scholars for the Class of 2021, CDT Tyrese Bender and CDT Evan Walker. They are part of a select group of 32 scholars from the United States and will be joining recipients from more than 60 other countries. The last time West Point had more than one Rhodes scholar was in 2014.

One of the Rhodes Scholars, Tyrese Bender, is from Fairfax. His mother is a member of the West Point Parents Club of Maryland, DC and Virginia.  I am a member of this parents club as well, since my son is currently at the Academy in his third year. 

The Rhodes Trust posted this announcement:

“Tyrese D. Bender, of Fairfax, is in his final year at the U.S. Military Academy where he will get a B.S. in Engineering. He is Deputy Brigade Commander, the second-highest ranking cadet in the West Point chain of command. Tyrese has a 4.0 GPA and has been instrumental in drafting the first-ever Diversity Strategy designed to establish a more inclusive environment at the Academy.

“He also established a character training protocol for 1300 cadets around issues including race, sexual harassment and assault, mental health, political activism and COVID- 19. Tyrese is also captain of the Division I track and field team and a champion triple jumper.

“Tyrese plans to do a Master of Science in Sociology and a Master of Science in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at Oxford University in the UK.”

His mother, Maria Bender, said that Tyrese was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. The family moved to Fairfax, VA in July 2015. As a scholar and an athlete, he graduated with honors from Fairfax High School in 2017, 2017 Athlete of the year, 2017 Harold Stalnaker award, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Silver in the Triple Jump at the 2017 New Balance Indoor Nationals, and 4th place in Triple Jump Virginia State Championship (6A). 

Here is a story from Tyrese’s mother, Maria Bender.  “When the kids were little, I walked with them to the crosswalk across the street from their elementary school then a quick run before getting ready for work. One morning their school crossing guard stopped me, introduced herself and told me how much she adores my kids. Then she showed me her umbrella. She said my son gave it to her so she doesn’t have to get soaked in the rain or stand in the heat (this was in TX). He told her he can run really fast or share his sister’s umbrella.

Maria remarked, “That adorable, rambunctious kid is now an accomplished and decorated student, cadet and track athlete; but to this day, his greatest traits are still his kindness, humility, compassion and passion for helping others… and he can still run really fast! Our family and friends are so proud beyond words and extremely grateful to the army of people who supported him and helped him reach this incredible milestone. “

Maria Bender stated, “Tyrese’s commitment to his peers, teammates, family and to duty, honor, country, never faltered–despite very difficult times.” She also told me that she was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 then again in 2019 and has been on chemo since July 2019. She remarked, “He’s been the one constant and has been the caregiver when I needed him.” 

Tyrese will graduate from West Point in May 2021 and become a 2nd Lieutenant in The US Army, head to Oxford University in England in the fall to work on his graduate degrees for two years and then work on fulfilling his five-year commitment in the United States Army.  His branch in the Army is Engineering.