Girdlers’ Scholar For 2004

Girdlers’ Scholar For 2004

Matthew Flinn, 2003 Dux of Rangitoto College, has been announced as the Girdlers’ Scholar for 2004, following a recent meeting of the selection committee in Wellington.

Each year the Girdlers’ Scholarship allows a New Zealand student who has excelled in year 13 examinations to travel to the United Kingdom and study at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University. The award is worth more than 18,000 pounds sterling per annum and is regarded as the undergraduate equivalent of the Rhodes Scholarship. It is administered by the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee.

Matthew, 18, gained a total of 455 in five Bursary subjects in 2003 and was top at his school in all five of those subjects. He was not only awarded Dux of the college but also received the Cup for General Excellence which is given to the best all-round student. His extracurricular interests are varied and include debating, public speaking and singing, while he is an accomplished pianist and violinist.

Matthew will study law at Cambridge and intends to undertake a career as a barrister/solicitor after some postgraduate study in areas such as international diplomacy.

The Girdlers’ Scholarship, first awarded in 1952, is New Zealand’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship to Cambridge. It is funded by one of England’s oldest livery companies, the Worshipful Company of Girdlers’ which dates from the 14th century. Today, the main focus of the Girdlers’ Company is on charitable works and property ownership.

Matthew, as the 40th Girdlers’ Scholar, will be expected to maintain the high standards achieved by former Girdlers’ Scholars, who include John Lewis, Headmaster of Eton College.

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