By Craig Lewis
Ten KwaZulu-Natal matric pupils, who have the potential to make a "significant contribution to the future of this country", have been offered the prestigious Allan Gray scholarship.
Selectors sifted through nearly 1 000 completed applications and conducted about 300 interviews, choosing 100 top pupils from across the country to attend two selection camps.
CEO Anthony Farr described the selection process as intensive and extensive.
"We were looking for five characteristics: intellectual imagination, personal initiative, a spirit of selflessness, courageous commitment and achievement excellence," he said.
He added that after selecting the students to attend the camp, he was very impressed with their performances.
"It was an inspiring experience to bring together about 100 of the top matriculants from every part of the country, as well as Namibia and Swaziland, representing the culmination of a process started with a potential pool of about 50 000 pupils," he said.
Kingsway High School pupil Tammy Smit said the camp was an experience of a lifetime.
"The camp was the most exciting, inspiring experience I've ever had, because the facilitators had so much energy and belief in us and they pushed us to work harder and be more creative than we'd ever been before," she said.
"On the camp I realised how exciting the business world was and how much I actually wanted the scholarship."
Siyaduma Noel Biniza of the Eastern Cape described the camp as "out of this world".
"It taught me to handle pressure. It taught me skills to expand my creativity and it also taught me to be aware of what goes into making a product, marketing it, selling and deciding the target market.
"But most of all it enhanced my presentation skills," Noel Biniza said.
The largest number of successful students came from KwaZulu-Natal (10) and Gauteng (17). However, at this stage the offers are conditional.
They will be finalised later this year, based on matric results and confirmed acceptances to respective universities, Farr said.
"We believe this group, given the right education, skills development and access, can make a significant contribution to the future of this country," he added.
The scholarships cover the full cost of academic studies at the pupil's university, book allowances, the full cost of residence, as well as a living allowance.
Smit said when she got the call offering her the scholarship, she was so excited she had to contain the urge "to shout out loud".
"I am very honoured, excited and grateful to have been considered because there were so many talented people on the camp," she said.
The 95 pupils who attended the camps came from: Durban Girls' High, Epworth Independent, Estcourt, Inkamana, John Ross College, Kingsway, Ladysmith High, Mowat Park, Pietermaritzburg Girls' High, Port Shepstone, Ridge Park College, Saint Catherine's, Scottburgh, Vryheid, and Westville Girls' High.