A Newark native chosen as a Rhodes Scholar -- one of the most prestigious scholarships for young leaders across the world -- says he'll one day return to his city to finish the work he started.

"The people I have met along my journey have been special and it's amazing to see the impact I can have on others," said Jordan Thomas, a senior at Princeton University and graduate of University High in Newark, who was named one of 32 Rhodes Scholars representing the U.S. for 2018.

"I will be coming back to Newark -- I'm not finished yet," he added.

Jordan Thomas was named a Rhodes Scholar.

The scholarship, among the most recognized international academic awards, counts former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., among its ranks. The award pays for two or three years of graduate study at Oxford University in England; this year 97 will earn such scholarships around the world.

"We recognize a young man who has made history not only for Newark Public Schools, but also for the city of Newark," Chairman of the Newark School Advisory Board Marquis Aquil Lewis said.

Thomas will graduate from Princeton next year, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He is double minoring in Portuguese Language and Culture and African-American Studies.

Thomas also served as a Fulbright Summer Institute Fellow at the University of Bristol and interned at the Office for Civil Rights' Program Legal Group at the U.S. Department of Education. He also previously served as a student representative on the local School Advisory Board.

At Oxford, Thomas will study social intervention and policy evaluation, the district said. He plans to host a discussion with students at his alma mater on Jan. 4.

Superintendent of Schools Christopher Cerf said Thomas "represents the best of Newark Public Schools students and their passion to learn, explore and impact the world. We are proud of Jordan's accomplishments and look forward to an extraordinary future for him."

Other New Jersey natives named 2018 Rhodes Scholars include Christopher D'Urso, a Colts Neck resident who attends the University of Pennsylvania and Jasmine Brown, a Hillsborough resident who attends Washington University in St. Louis.

Jordan Thomas, of Newark, was named a Rhodes Scholar for 2018. (Courtesy: The Rhodes Trust)

Rhodes Scholars have been named since 1903. In 1977, another scholar, Frederick T. Smith, also hailed from Newark, according to The New York Times. A representative from the scholarship program said it does not keep a list of past winners sortable by hometown. But, Thomas is the first scholar from Newark since at least 2001.

"I am truly honored and humbled to stand before you this evening to accept this proclamation from a school district and city I love," Thomas said earlier this month as he was honored by the School Advisory Board.

"I truly believe in my heart this (being a Rhodes Scholar) will help me to come back and serve my city."

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.