Auckland graduate wins Rhodes Scholarship

19 October 2006
Media release

Auckland graduate wins Rhodes Scholarship

A law and commerce graduate from The University of Auckland is one of three Rhodes Scholars from New Zealand chosen for 2007.

Selected after interviews with shortlisted candidates at Old Government House in Wellington, Eesvan Krishnan joins an illustrious list of Rhodes Scholars from this country.

Rhodes Scholarships, held at Oxford University, represent the pinnacle of achievement for university graduates wanting to pursue postgraduate study at one of the world’s leading universities. Eleven of the 30 Rhodes Scholars selected over the last ten years have been from The University of Auckland.

Eesvan, 23, plans to study for a bachelor of civil law degree at Oxford, focusing on human rights and the criminal law, followed by a master of philosophy in the same field. After working and travelling overseas he wants to practise criminal law in New Zealand and, eventually, to pursue an academic career specialising in criminal justice.

Eesvan was born in Singapore of Indian parents and came to New Zealand in 1993. The family lives in Ellerslie.

He attended Macleans College at Bucklands Beach where he won the prestigious Prentice Boys All-Rounder Cup for his contribution to the school’s sporting, charitable and cultural life.

Last month he graduated LLB with honours and BCom with a double major in economics and international business. Staff in the Faculty of Law describe him as the most gifted student they have ever taught. He won numerous awards and scholarships including the Senior Scholarship in Law for 2005 awarded to the top three qualifying graduates.

He also won Senior Prizes in economics and international business. In 2004 he was a member of the victorious University of Auckland team in the Global Business Challenge, an international business skills competition held in Seattle.

He worked as a student volunteer on the case of Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui and co-founded the Equal Justice Project which promotes access to justice in Auckland for people who cannot afford legal services. This year he has been Judge’s Clerk to the Chief Justice, the Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias, in Wellington.

Eesvan is “absolutely thrilled” to be made a Rhodes Scholar. “I could not have done it without support from my academic mentors, family and friends.”

ENDS

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