Matthew de la Hey (Hilton College Matric: 2008) has been selected as a Weidenfeld scholar to study at Oxford University on the Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership programme. He will read an MSc in African Studies through the school of Interdisciplinary Area Studies as a member of New College (founded in 1379).
28 scholars were selected from over 1,800 applicants this year and Matthew is one of 2 South Africans to be selected for the programme.
"The Weidenfeld Scholarship aims to cultivate the leaders of tomorrow, mostly from transition and emerging economies, by providing outstanding university graduates and early-career professionals with the opportunity to pursue fully funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford, in combination with a comprehensive programme of leadership development, long-term mentoring and networking. The Leadership Programme aims to build the Scholars capacity to contribute positively to public life in their countries and regions of origin upon their return. Said a past scholar: "The leaders in this scholarship really lead by example. They are successful, they are smart, they want to make the world a better place, they are down to earth, they are kind and they care about something greater than themselves." Professor Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of the University described the scheme "They are looking for scholars who are outstanding not just in the academic aspects of their field but who also have the potential to become leaders in the countries from which they have come when they return after their period in Oxford...Oxford itself benefits from the presence of the Weidenfeld scholars".
Matthew was awarded the Sizana award for outreach activity in Form 1 (Grade 8) at Hilton College, participated in the school outreach programme and has remained committed to serving his communities: a seed of community awareness and social activism was planted during his time at Hilton that has seen him go on to achieve a great deal since leaving. In Matric Matthew was captain of the canoeing club, chairman of the enterprise club and the recipient of the Normand Dunn and Kenneth Beghin prizes for Visual Arts and the Jimmy Nisbet Prize for History.
After Hilton College Matthew went on to Stellenbosch University where he completed a Bachelor of Accounting and Honours in Accounting. Whilst at Stellenbosch he was selected as a member of a team of 15 for the South Africa-Washington International Programme, a 6-month leadership development programme through which he interned at the World Bank in Washington, DC.
He was also awarded a Mandela Rhodes scholarship for 2012 as a young African with extraordinary leadership potential and in recognition of his commitment to the scholarship's values of reconciliation, entrepreneurship, leadership and academic distinction.
Matthew graduated from Stellenbosch in 2012 and upon leaving Oxford intends to complete his Chartered Accounting qualification and thereafter be involved in trans-African business, "harnessing the strongest features of capitalism- its power to drive innovation and progress -to help solve the continent's social and environmental problems." He is also a co-founder and director of InkuluFreeHeid: a non-partisan youth-led movement of ordinary South Africans aiming to unite people and organisations behind a collective vision for our country. InkuluFreeHeid's key project at the moment is the 'Our Vote Our Voice' campaign, an initiative to get young people to engage with democracy and make informed decisions ahead of the upcoming 2014 national election.
Matthew will start at Oxford in October.
Pictured from left to right are Rendani Gangahze, Michael Salgado, Matt de la Hey, Kimani Gitau, Kofi Arthur and Andrew Dellis.
Photograph and news supplied by Hilton College.