Sydney, Friday 09 July 2021: With Sydney in lockdown, a planned presentation ceremony and orientation event for our twenty new Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars was held online this week, offering the scholars the chance to meet each other virtually, as well as be congratulated by Ramsay Centre Chairman, the Hon John Howard OM AC.
In a Zoom event attended by Ramsay Centre CEO Professor Simon Haines, and members of the Ramsay Centre board, Mr Howard addressed the scholars, congratulating them on their academic achievements, their leadership and service, and their commitment to advancing a richer, deeper understanding of Western civilisation.
Ramsay Centre CEO Professor Simon Haines also addressed the scholars, engaging with them in an in-depth discussion of the history and achievements of Western civilisation.
With ‘giving back’ constituting an important scholarship requirement, the Centre invited arts advocate, philanthropist, business and community leader, Samantha Meers AO to present her thoughts on leadership and philanthropy to the scholars.
Ms Meers advised the scholars to start thinking early on about the wider application of their skills, what issues they were passionate about, and how they could use their considerable talents to contribute to them.
Finally, the scholars listened to a panel discussion with Ramsay Directors who reflected on their overseas study and how it impacted their life and careers. The panel comprised former Prime Minister and Rhodes Scholar, the Hon Tony Abbott AC, and Dr Michael Easson AM, an alumnus of Oxford University, Harvard Business School and Stanford Business School.
Approximately 100 students applied for the Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, with a pre-requisite that they had already been accepted into a graduate program at a world-leading overseas institution.
The inaugural cohort of twenty scholars will embark on study in a range of disciplines including physics, law, architecture, educational leadership, public policy, music, history, English literature, economics, and international relations.
They will commence their study this year at distinguished overseas universities including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, New York University, Harvard University, Leiden University, University of Notre Dame Indiana, and St John’s College, Annapolis.
For more information on our Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarships and how to apply visit: https://www.ramsaycentre.org/scholarships-courses/postgraduate-scholarships/
Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098/ sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org