Monash South Africa (MSA) hosted 27 of the country’s brightest young minds, who were the finalists in the 2015 National Spelling Bee Competition.
Three primary school winners from each of the provinces were invited to MSA for an inside view of the state-of-the-art campus, showcasing what can be achieved should they continue striving for excellence in the classroom.
In addition MSA, as part of its ongoing efforts to empower children through education, sponsors an academic scholarship for the winners of both the national and Gauteng provincial Spell It Spelling Bees.
During their visit to the campus, MSA CEO, Esther Benjamin called upon the finalists to take their future under careful consideration.
“You may be young today, but it’s important to remember that it is never too early to start thinking about your higher education. I encourage you to think about what you need to be doing today to maintain top academic performance, to ensure your future at a top tertiary institution such as Monash South Africa,” said Benjamin.
During the campus tour, the 27 finalists and ultimate winner, Erin Sloane from Western Cape, was excited by the opportunity to secure a scholarship at such a young age.
Malaka Mapheto of Dikolobe Primary School in Limpopo wants to be a doctor one day so that he can help people.
Since 2010, the Spell It initiative in partnership with the National Department of Education and Nedbank, has impacted the lives of over 150 000 primary school pupils across South Africa by providing them with the opportunity to achieve an international level of spelling competency.
The national and provincial Spelling Bee competitions form an important part of this process, and to date have assisted in the improvement of the spelling ability of pupils by an average of 300 per cent.
“Together with the Department of Basic Education and other partners, we are exceptionally proud to be a sponsor of the National Spelling Bee Competition. Our collaboration with Spell It over the years has provided sponsorship for 14 pupils to attend Monash South Africa and we are pleased to continue this support for promising young leaders who are encouraged to meet their full potential through this programme,” concluded Benjamin.
