Six big dreamers who have studied or are studying at UCT have dominated the fleet of scholarship awardees heading to Oxford University. Only 10 people from Southern Africa are chosen for what is the opportunity of a lifetime—studying at the world’s top uni!
Cape Town, South Africa (23 November 2023) — In an applause-worthy series of achievements for dream chasers, six scholars and alumni from the University of Cape Town have secured scholarships to the University of Oxford.
This is no small trip across the pond, especially considering Oxford’s reputation as the best university in the world.
Part of the 2024 Rhodes Scholars-Elect which selected only 10 Southern African prospects (Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Nambia and South Africa) UCT dominated the fleet of accepted hopefuls.
According to UCT, candidates are chosen based on a number of factors, including academic excellence and achievements, mastery of talents (AKA, extracurricular greatness), philanthropic inclinations and leadership qualities.
Meet the Pick of the Academic Litter
- Justine Crook-Mansour: Justine is a current student who is completing her honours in astrophysics. She was also the country’s top matriculant upon completing high school, amid other big achievements.
- Daniel Erasmus: A law student, Daniel was also the Student Representative Council’s secretary general and won the Kate O’Reagan Inter-varsity Moot Competition, in 2022.
- Sagel Kundieko: Sagel is en-route to get her Masters in Neuroscience, and is a member of the Southern African Neuroscience Society as well as the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa.
- Mothibi Mathivha: Mothibi is completing an Honours degree in Physics, and hopes to complete a Masters degree at Oxford.
- Dr Leago Sebesho: Junior doctor Sebesho is a qualified doctor who also won the Bongani Mayosi Academic Prize and the Foreman Prize. Concerned with uplifting communities, Dr Sebesho hopes to influence health policies for the vulnerable.
- Dr Savannah Verhage: As a Master of Public Health student, junior doctor Dr Verhage has her sights set on global health and creating a fairer healthcare system. Her community outreach has been commendable, as has her leadership of several institutions, including being the director of Mentorship and Professional Outreach for the International Association of Student Surgical Societies.
On to Oxford!
by 