Montgomery County Council

News Release

March 5, 1999


FROM THE DESK OF COUNCILMEMBER PHIL ANDREWS:
County Council Honors Rhodes Scholar Vargas

Montgomery County District 3 Councilmember Phil Andrews recently presented a County Council Proclamation to Derwood resident Jose Vargas, a 1995 Magruder High School graduate who has been named a Rhodes Scholar. Vargas, accompanied by his mother, Mrs. Danilo Vargas, was recognized at the March 2 Council session as an "inspiration to young people, especially those who come to Montgomery County from other countries."

The Vargas family came to the United States from the Dominican Republic when Jose was 13. He spoke very little English, but by the time he graduated from Magruder he was excelling in all of his classes and graduated with a better than 4.0 average.

Vargas is completing his senior year at Loyola College in Baltimore. He will be leaving this fall for the University of Oxford, Oxford, England to begin a three-year course of study for a master’s degree in biochemistry. He plans to become a doctor. Vargas is the first student in the history of Loyola College to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, which is given for outstanding academic achievement and leadership ability.


Bobbi Walton, (301) 217-6614
phil.andrews@montgomerycountymd.gov