The Australian National University (ANU) Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington today announced the appointment of three fellows to mentor the Tuckwell Scholars when the first cohort arrive in 2014. The Tuckwell Scholarship Program was established by ANU alumnus Graham Tuckwell and his wife Louise in February to support 25 undergraduate students each year for the length of an undergraduate degree. Their $50 million gift to the University was the largest ever donation to an Australian university by an Australian citizen. Professor Hughes-Warrington said the University received an outstanding response to the call for Fellows. “The committee congratulates all Colleges for the outstanding applications put forward, and looks forward to working with the Fellows,” she said. Human rights law expert Professor Simon Rice, biochemist Associate Professor Susan Howitt and historian of Southeast Asia Dr Mary Kilcline Cody have been chosen to lead the inaugural cohort of undergraduate Scholars drawn from schools across Australia.

The Fellows will provide Scholars with advice and support, and play an active role in coordinating social events and seminars to bring the Tuckwell Scholar community together.

Professor Rice said he was drawn to the Tuckwell’s vision of encouraging students to fulfill their wider leadership and community service ambitions alongside their tertiary studies.

“What I like about university life is inspiring students to engage in the broader community,” he said.

“University offers so much more than a degree, and I really enjoy motivating students to pursue everything that’s possible. The Tuckwell Scholars will arrive here with a history of doing interesting and innovative things, but it’s a big step to carry that forward into tertiary studies and adult life. To an extent that’s our role: mentoring them to translate their potential into something that really makes a social contribution.”

Associate Professor Howitt said she was excited about providing one-on-one support to students and helping them identify opportunities in their chosen fields.

“This is an opportunity to develop real relationships with these students over the course of their degree,” she said.

“It’s always good to have a mentor you can go to for advice. A lot of students feel inhibited about actually going to talk to someone. Sometimes just having a chat with someone can open up so many possibilities.”

This announcement follows a large response to the call for Tuckwell Scholarship applications. More than 650 students from schools around Australia applied and 217 were invited to progress to stage two of the selection process. The recipients of the first Tuckwell Scholarships will be announced in July 2013.

Tuckwell Scholars will receive $20,000 per annum for the length of a single or double undergraduate degree, including honours and vertical degrees (degrees that combine undergraduate and graduate study, across a range of disciplines, completed in a reduced time-frame).

Source: ANU announces Tuckwell Fellows, ANU News.