Prof dad’s moment of pride
Top award for daughter
IT WAS a proud moment for the programme director of the University of KwaZuluNatal scholarship awards ceremony as his daughter received top honours in recognition of her academic excellence.
Professor Kriben Pillay, the dean of Teaching and Learning at the university’s College of Law and Management Studies, hugged his daughter, Siddharthiya Pillay, as she made her way off the stage on Wednesday night.
She received the award for being one of the two top-ranked Master’s students in the university. The Master in Medical Law student and the Master of Medical Science student, Kimberleigh Bianca Govender, were so closely matched that they shared the scholarship, named after Vincent Maphai, the first chairman of council of the university.
Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, university chancellor, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said: “We need to build on these stories of success to create a generation of youth that will take seriously the task of knowledge acquisition and accumulation as an important weapon to shape the future, not just their future only but to positively impact the future of others as well.”
He said the knowledge on its own was not significant unless it could be applied to bring about solutions, and change the conditions of life for the better.
He reminded the students that “it’s all about community service, about building better systems, building better institutions and ensuring more accountability of public servants and private sector as they all serve our people”.
Being of service is exactly what Siddharthiya Pillay, 23, plans to do with her career. After completing a BSc in Biomedical Science, she majored in Medical Biochemistry for her Honours degree. For her Master, she decided on medical law because of her interest in human rights and the lack of access to medicine of those who needed it most.
She plans to pursue a career in her own non-profit organisation, work for an international civic organisation or a pharmaceutical company which promotes affordable access to high-quality medicine especially for diseases often neglected by others.
“I’m a compassionate person. The majority of our population has to use the public health system which is overwhelmed. I feel there is a need for people who are willing to raise the bar, who are compassionate enough to sacrifice their own material interest for the benefit of people,” she said.
Her father will be stepping down as dean, meaning this was the last time he was programme director of the ceremony. Pillay said his daughter had always had an interest in helping others. “She was always affected emotionally by those less fortunate.”
UKZN awards a total of 6 000 scholarships, amounting to R150 million, annually. This did not include loans and bursaries, which brings the total to R900m a year.
Another recipient was Ishq Pramchand, who with his twin brother, Ashiq, obtained 16 distinctions in matric at Crawford College last year. Now following in the footsteps on their medical doctor parents, they were both at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine. Ishq was awarded one of the Pius Langa Scholarships for the top performing new undergraduate entrants.
One of the most coveted honours at the ceremony was the Distinguished Student Award, based on nominations from staff or students, which recognises students who have not only excelled academically, but also display leadership in their communities and among peers. This year’s recipients were Master of Social Science student, James Ndlovu, and Bachelor of Arts Honours student, Lungelo Siphosethu Mbatha.
Mbatha, who was born with a congenital deformity of the right leg and left arm which limited his movements, said his disability did not limit his mind and aspirations. He also received the Talent Excellence And Equity Scholarship, and when he is not working hard at the books, he is coaching the university soccer team.