Scholarly salute for student leader
Ben Knight with Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO
Voluntary work to improve the outlook for his fellow students has won a Monash student a prestigious scholarship.
Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws student Ben Knight has won an Order of Australia Association Foundation Scholarship, an acknowledgement of his leadership, initiative and community affairs involvement. It was presented by the Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, at a ceremony in Canberra recently.
The scholarships are awarded to Australian students in their early years of tertiary study.
Ben said he applied for the scholarship because the concept of leadership underpins much of his work.
"I have always given back to my community and peers. I'm from a rural area in Tasmania and I had to work very hard for where I'm at, but I also understand that there are individuals in greater need,” Ben said.
Ben has been involved in his community since high school, participating in fundraising activities and becoming an office bearer on his school’s Students’ Representative Council. He has also made the state finals of Lions International’s Youth of the Year competition.
He has continued to help others since starting at university, becoming an advocate for quality of education in the tertiary sector.
Ben is the elected representative for the University’s Academic Board and recently took up the position of Education (Academic Affairs) Officer in the Monash Student Association (MSA), where he promotes students’ rights.
“I feel so privileged to have been selected for this scholarship. It will allow me to reduce my reliance on part-time work so I can be a more effective representative for the students on matters relating to academic policy,” Ben said.
Applications for 2014 undergraduate and coursework scholarships will open in August.