Originally published by KCCI Des Moines

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) —An Iowa man who is interested in economics and international relations is one of 32 American Rhodes Scholars who will have the opportunity to attend prestigious Oxford University in England.

Iowa City native Jeffrey Ding was one of the winners announced Sunday out of 869 applicants. In addition to economics, Ding is also studying political science and Chinese at the University of Iowa.

Ding has already had internships in Hong Kong and with the U.S. State Department, and now he will be able to pursue a graduate degree at Oxford.

Ding says much of his studies have focused on finding ways to build sustainable relationships between the United States and China.

The Rhodes scholarships are worth about $50,000 per year for up to three years.