One of four local contenders for one of the most valuable scholarships available to Canadian students has won.
Semiahmoo Secondary’s Fred Zhu learned late Thursday that the Blyth Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship is his, and that he has been accepted to Cambridge University’s Jesus College for Natural Sciences Biological.
Victoria’s Keiler Totz also won.
The full-ride award is worth about $150,000, and even covers travel costs between Canada and the U.K.
Zhu – along with Semi’s Lloyd James and Akshiv Bansal, and Southridge School’s Prem Ramani – learned last fall that he’d been shortlisted for the scholarship. The International Baccalaureate student travelled to Toronto in late November to be interviewed by the award selection committee.
The 17-year-old is the second Semi student in two years to be selected a winner.
Last year, Tristan Downing won. He is now studying at Cambridge’s Pembroke College.
Prior to his interview in Toronto, Zhu told Peace Arch News his passion lies in natural sciences.
“I just love how it’s so applicable to life,” he said. “It’s absolutely amazing what biology has managed to accomplish.”
The Blyth Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship is presented to students who “have shown academic excellence, intellectual depth, personal integrity and success beyond their studies.”
In a statement issued Thursday, Blyth Scholars chair Sam Blyth said his support to undergraduate students from Canada stems from his own experience receiving a Cambridge education.
“These awards are an expression of gratitude, as well as a gift to Canadian scholars who should excel at the university,” Blyth said.
