Eight students from Harvard have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships, more than any other university, according to the list of American winners released yesterday.

The six undergraduate winners, all seniors, are Priya R. Aiyar of Lowell House; Ahmad I. Atwan of Kirkland House; David V. Bonfili of Dunster House; Alice I. Chen, a Currier resident; Ramin Toloui of Leverett House; and Mark Wu '95-'96, a Currier affiliate who lives of campus.

Jeremy A. Dauber '95 and Jennifer E. DeVoe, a student at the Medical School, were also awarded the scholarships, which pay for two years of study at Oxford University.

Harvard averages about six Khodes Scholars each year, according to Paul A. Bohlmann, acting director of fellowships at the Office of Career Services.

The winners, who were all notified immediately following their interviews, yesterday expressed excitement at being chosen.

"I'm very, very happy and very, very surprised," said Dauber, who is now working for a "non-profit foundation that specializes in Jewish educational policy."

Dauber, a former Crimson editor, served as chair of Hillel while at Harvard, in addition to working as editor in chief of Mosaic, a journal of Jewish studies, and directing a play, "The Nerd"

A former social studies concentrator, he said he plans to earn a doctorate in modern Jewish studies at Oxford and become a "socially-engaged academic."

He is currently an alumni affiliate and Senior Common Room member at Lowell House, where he lived while an undergraduate.

The other scholars shared similar emotions after hearing of their awards.

"I feel ecstatic," Atwan said in a telephone interview. "I never really envisioned the chance to be in a position to win a Rhodes, much less win it."

Atwan attributed his award in part to the College.

"Harvard's system prepares you for the Rhodes process, which is based on interviews and based on well-roundedness, on being able to talk and express yourself in many different ways," he said.

He expressed surprise at being selected despite the fact that he was not present for an important cocktail reception before his interview.

"Usually that would eliminate you from the running," he said.

"Chicago's airport was snowed in. Myself and one other Harvard student were the only ones who missed the reception. We called the committee and they said to take the earliest flight," he said.