Rhodes Scholars-elect
Previous years:
The Rhodes Scholars elected at the end of 2005 and who will take up residence in October 2006 are:
South Africa-at-Large
Abby Loebenberg
B Architectural Studies, B Architecture (Dist) (Cape Town), daughter of Mr and Mrs P Loebenberg, 9 Kenilworth Road, Kenilworth.
Herschel High School: Merit badge in Service and Art; Head of Resources; School V.C. Volleyball. University of Cape Town: CIA Group prize; Ivor Prinsloo prize; The Essay prize; Heinemann Book prize. Abby has been awarded University Prizes in both the African Studies and Architecture departments, where she has been an active student. Her work has been widely published in both academic and non-academic publications, including the Journal of the Institute of Architects (‘Architecture South Africa') and Archis (Rotterdam). Much of her work grapples with issues of heritage, the politics of space and the representation of the past in South Africa. Abby is involved in the I-Care project, a life-skills training project for underprivileged children in Dunoon, Cape Town, and works with various NGO groups to strategise architectural design solutions to social problems obstructing medical treatment programs. She has been accepted by Hertford College to read for the MPhil in Material Anthropology and Museum Ethnography.
MB ChB (Cape Town), daughter of Mr and Mrs D Murugasen, 108 Flamboyant Drive, Isipingo Hills.
Durban Girls' College: ‘A' aggregate matriculation with distinctions in all subjects; dux; prefect; Vice-President of Teenagers against Drug Abuse; Heather Robb prize; William Palmer scholarship; Board of Governors scholarship. University of Cape Town: Chair, UCT Health Sciences Students Council, 2004 for which work she received the Student Leadership award; President 2005-6 of the South African Medical Students Association (a non-profit organisation that empowers both Health Sciences students and communities through social and educational projects). Serini works as a reviewer for the Student British Medical Journal as well as Liaison Officer to the World Health Organisation for the International Federation of Medical Students Associations. She considers herself an avid reader of all forms of literature and enjoys playing the piano, hiking and taebo. Serini intends reading for a DPhil in Public Health.
BBusSc Hons (Distinction) (Cape Town), son of Mr and Mrs SP Maharaj, 11 Herrwood Drive, Umhlanga Ridge, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Hilton College: 100% aggregate IEB matriculation with 7 distinctions (placed Top 50 nationally); Dux scholar; Academic Honours; top school and national prizes for Mathematics, Physical Science, English, and Accounting; matric leader and Head of various societies. University of Cape Town: double Honours in Economics and Finance and majors in Management Accounting and Statistics - all with Distinction; Goldman Sachs Global Leader; Sir Richard Luyt Scholarship for leadership; Golden Key International/Ford Motor Corp. Scholarship; Sheila van der Horst Scholarship; Dean's Merit List every academic year; Top 10 nationally for Old Mutual & Nedbank Budget Speech Competition; PricewaterhouseCoopers Scholarship; Mensa Member; Jan Smuts Academic Award; UCT Entrance Scholarship. Sharand has been successful in his numerous pursuits in leadership and community service, including the Chairmanship of RAG (Remember and Give), President of InvestSoc (Investment Society), Student's Representative Council, and Board of SHAWCO (Students' Health and Welfare Centres Organisation). Sharand enjoys investing in financial markets, travelling, partying and kickboxing. He has been accepted at St Anne's College to read for an MSc in Financial Economics.
BA BA Hons (Cape Town), son of Dr and Mrs A Sofianos, 253 Asimptote Street, Meyerspark, Pretoria.
Deutsche School, Pretoria: Chairman, Natural Science society; captain, U11, U14 and first team U16 football. University of Cape Town: Entrance scholarship; Dean's merit list; Thelma Tyfield prize; member, SHAWCO; tutor, English department. In his academic work, Konstantin has focussed primarily on Anglophone African and South African cultural production and is concerned to make explicit and historicise the enduring continuity of such cultural artefacts with transplanted, metropolitan traditions and genres. Konstantin has been teaching and lecturing at UCT and Stellenbosch University for the past year, and is also an avid footballer and a short basketball-player. At Oxford, he has been accepted by Wadham College to read for the MSt in English.
Andrew Nicholas Kerr
BSc (Applied Maths and Economics -summa cum laude) BCom Hons (Economics- summa cum laude) (UKZN), son of Reverend and Mrs N Kerr, 39 Alexander Terrace, Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal.
Thomas More College: 6 As in Matric; member: senior debating team, choir, 2nd XV rugby and Students Executive Council; captain: athletics and cross country teams; University of KwaZulu-Natal: Chairman, Hexagon Trust Alumni Association; Dean's Commendations; economics tutor. Amongst Andrew's other interests are running, hiking and reading. He is the chairman of the UKZN Howard College Athletics Club and has completed ten 80km “Long Walks” at Thomas More College. He has taken Zulu as an extra subject at UKZN and is currently doing 3rd year before he departs for Oxford. Andrew was youth worker at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Hillcrest from 2001 to 2004 and enjoys playing the piano and guitar. At Oxford, he will read for an MPhil in Economics at St Antony's College.
Derrick John Betts
BBusSci (Finance) (Cape Town), son of Mr and Mrs MJ Betts, 3 Cormorant Crescent, Steenberg Estate, Tokai Road, Tokai, Cape Town.
‘A' aggregate matriculation; head prefect and head of house; distinction tie for leadership; Old Diocesan merit prize; Bruce Muller Memorial Cup; Lidderdale prize for considerateness; Frank Roston Memorial trophy; Jamison prize for athletics; Western Province rowing colours. University of Cape Town: Dean's merit list; Deloitte scholarship; KPMG prize, Senior Entrance Merit Scholarship. Derrick has worked as a volunteer for SHAWCO since his first year of study and has just finished a term on the SHAWCO steering committee. He enjoys road running and has completed both the Cape Town marathon and Two Oceans half-marathon. He is currently studying for Accounting Honours at the University of Cape Town. Derrick has been accepted at Exeter College to read an undergraduate BA PPE.
Philip Brian Southey
BSc BSc Hons (Cape Town), son of Mr and Mrs T Southey, 10 Zion Road, Claremont, Cape Town.
‘A' aggregate matriculation; deputy head boy; head of upper house; academic honours; founder and chairman of Interact Club; Chairman, Astronomers society; dramatic honours; service honours; athletic colours; plays rugby, cricket and tennis. University of Cape Town: UCT entrance scholarship; Richard Solomon Memorial entrance scholarship; Dean's merit list; Price Waterhouse Coopers bursary; Deputy head student and subwarden of Smuts Hall Residence. Philip is a keen musician. He plays the flute, guitar, piano and has played the bagpipes at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. At Oxford he looks forward to engaging in thespian activities. Philip will read for a two-year PPE at Harris-Manchester.
James William Morrissey
BSc BSc Hons (Cape Town) son of Mr and Mrs D Morrissey, 38 Fir Lane, Tokai.
Prefect; Full blue and captain, athletics team; half blue, rugby; 1st XV rugby, University of Cape Town: Synoptic Climatology medal; Dean's merit list; Entrance scholarship; Rotary, Post Graduate and Research scholarships. After completing his honours degree, James worked with both Justiça Ambiental! – a grassroots, advocacy NGO in Mozambique - and with UCT's Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme where his work has focussed on reducing human vulnerability to both ‘social' and ‘environmental' hazards. He was a keen Rugby player at both school and university and his sporting interests currently include middle distance road running and athletics. At Oxford James will read for the MPhil in Development Studies at New College.
Michiel Scholtz du Pré le Roux
BCom (Melbourne) BCom Hons (Stellenbosch), son of Mr and Mrs M le Roux, 26 Rozendal Avenue, Stellenbosch.
‘A' aggregate matriculation; head boy; Captain, rugby, cricket and water polo teams. University of Melbourne: Professional Development Officer of Commerce Student Society; Volunteer labourer, Habitat for Humanity; captain, Ridley College debating team. University of Stellenbosch: Examination supervisor, Department of economics; Coach for Paul Roos U15A and B water polo teams. Michiel is a keen sportsman and plays water polo, rugby and soccer. At Oxford, he hopes to read for the MSc in African Studies.
Makuena Olympia Leboela
BA Economics Minor Statistics (Lesotho) daughter of Mr and Mrs S. Leboela, Maseru Lesotho.
St Stephen's: COSC certificate; president, debating association chairlady, Lesotho debate team and Khama House; United Nations 50th anniversary award in quiz and essay competition; Award for outstanding performance in JC and COSC; appointed to represent Basotho children in Lesotho parliament and in Switzerland. University of Lesotho: Mapetla award and Central Bank of Lesotho award for best economics student; best graduating female student award. Makuena presently works at the Central Bank of Lesotho as a dealer in the Financial Markets Department. She had the honour of analysing and commenting on Lesotho's 2003/2004 annual budget speech on National television. She keeps fit by playing tennis and working out at the gym. At Oxford she will read for MSc in Economics for Development by the Department of International Development at St Antony's College.
