THANDI XABA
The 12th cohort of Mandela Rhodes scholars for class of 2016 has been announced, and one candidate selected in the group is from Central South Africa.
Candice Thikeson, a 23-year-old Masters student in Art History and Image Studies at the University of Free State is among the 50 students chosen from all over Africa to participate in scholarship. She says she aims to educate other young people through the year-long programme.
About 75 candidates made it to the interviews held in both Johannesburg and Cape Town from the over 5 000 applications received. Candice says she feels very blessed and excited about the prospects of this scholarship.
The scholarship funds honours and masters students from across the continent, and must reflect in t"With scholarships like this one, with young people, you always feel like you don't know if you 100% deserve it.
You feel really overwhelmed and blessed that they believe in you. I feel really happy and really blessed that the scholarship panel saw something in me and that they believe in me.
So I am very excited and obviously very nervous, and I believe they are really going to stretch me and take me out of my comfort zone," she adds.
Their character a commitment to the four principles of Education, Reconciliation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship, as set by Mandela Rhodes Foundation.
Furthermore, during their time in residence, Mandela Rhodes Scholars will pursue postgraduate studies and participate in customised leadership development programmes.
