University of Auckland student Kerry Mackereth has won this year’s Girdlers’ Scholarship to attend the Cambridge University (UK) to pursue a tripos degree in Human, Political and Social Sciences, with Political Science as her major subject.
Tripos refers to final honours degree examinations at the Cambridge University.
The Scholarship is given to one outstanding New Zealander every year to cover university and college fees and part of living expenses while pursuing a degree course at the Cambridge University.
Kerry said that she evinced interest in Political Science and International Relations while researching on the anti-nuclear stance that New Zealand took in the 1980s, for an essay that formed a part of her two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
Constant achiever
The 2012 Dux has been an achiever in academics and other activities since she was a student at the Auckland based Diocesan School for Girls.
Among the honours that she received include the ‘National Zonta Young Woman in Public Affairs Award’ (2012), in recognition of her leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes; and a Scholarship valued at $50,000 from the University of Auckland.
She also scored 44 points, out of 45 points possible, at her IB examinations.
The Universities New Zealand-Te Pōkai Tara administers the £25,000 per annum Girdlers’ Scholarship, funded by the Girdlers’ Company, a London-based livery company established in 1327.
Kerry joined the University of Auckland this year as a Law and Arts conjoint degree student. She will begin studying at Cambridge University in October after visiting her brother Stephen who is studying Mathematics and Philosophy at Harvard (US).
“I am very excited to go to Cambridge, which is one of the most prestigious universities in the world,” she said.
Community commitment
Kerry has been involved in community services since she was six years old, when her parents worked on Mercy Ships.
While at Diocesan School, she was the ‘Service Prefect,’ running the 40-Hour Famine and established a school branch of the Twinkle Child Foundation, which helps hospitalised children.
She also participated in several musical and cultural activities, playing the double bass for five years in Diocesan’s Chamber Orchestra among others and performing in choirs, musicals and cultural groups.
She said that she was keen to work in humanitarian aid and development programmes with an agency such as the UN.
Editor’s note: The above report was based on an article, including quotes and photograph sent to us by Auckland based Deborah Telford of ‘The Write People.’
Photo Caption: Kerry Mackereth
