Matt our second Rhodes Scholar for 2005

2005 Rhodes Scholar Matt Wenham
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Wednesday, 1 December 2004

University of Adelaide graduate Matt Wenham has become the University's second Rhodes Scholar this year - making it the third year in a row the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars.

Matt, 23, was last night announced as one of five Rhodes Scholars for Australia at Large for 2005 at a special ceremony in Canberra. The scholarship enables him to head to Oxford University in the UK next year, where he will begin a D.Phil (PhD) in Biomedical Science.

The Rhodes is one of the world's most prestigious scholarships, and is offered annually in every State in Australia, plus five for Australia at Large. In October, University Law and Science graduate Hannah Tonkin was announced as the South Australian Rhodes Scholar for 2005.

Matt, who is the University's 98th Rhodes Scholar in the 101 years of the scholarship, graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2003 with an Honours degree in Science, specialising in biochemistry. He is now based in Melbourne where he is a researcher at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

"I congratulate Matt on his outstanding achievement - it is never easy to win an At Large Rhodes Scholarship because you are up against the very best students from across the country," University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha says.

"This is the third year in a row that the University of Adelaide has produced two Rhodes Scholars, which I believe is an exceptional achievement. I would be more than happy to have just one Rhodes Scholar in a year, and to continually produce two is just outstanding.

"It further demonstrates the qualities and potential of the young women and men who choose to study at the University of Adelaide."

Matt went to high school at Brighton Secondary School, and has previously been a Vice-President of the Youth Affairs Council of SA and President of the Adelaide Chapter of the Young Scientists of Australia. He has refereed soccer in the South Australian State and Premier League competitions, and is also a musician and singer. In 2003 he received a Centenary Medal for his services to youth affairs.

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