BCG Undergraduate Scholarship awarded to New Zealand students for the first time

25 November 2011 - The Boston Consulting Group’s Undergraduate Scholarship has gone to New Zealand for the first time, with two Auckland students receiving the prestigious award in 2011.

The BCG Undergraduate Scholarship was introduced in 2004 to provide financial support and recognition to talented students from Australia or New Zealand in their penultimate year of tertiary study.

After the 2010 award, BCG increased the cash prize from $AUD10,000 to $AUD15,000 and began offering one scholarship for men and one for women. Previously, only one scholarship was available each year.

New Zealand students scooped the pool in 2011, with the BCG Undergraduate Scholarship awarded to Emily Chai and James Ruddell, both from The University of Auckland.

Announcing the award today, BCG Partner, David Tapper, said Emily and James were worthy winners from a strong field of candidates.

“We were very impressed by the quality of entries from both sides of the Tasman, but our two winners from Auckland topped the field this year.”

BCG Undergraduate Scholarship winners are selected on a number of criteria, not just academic results. BCG also looks for excellence in creativity, teamwork and communication.

Emily Chai is undertaking a conjoint Bachelor of Arts and Commerce degree with Honours, majoring in Political Studies, Economics and Mathematics.

Outside of university studies, she has represented The University of Auckland at numerous business strategy competitions, and was a finalist at the Global Business Challenge in Seattle earlier this year.

Emily is also heavily involved with UN Youth New Zealand, including a term as the Auckland region president.

“The scholarship will allow me to dedicate more time to volunteer work over the next year. I am also keen to experience and explore different cultures and places, and hopefully the scholarship will also give me the ability to do a little travelling,” Emily said.

James Ruddell is studying for a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts. He is involved in many extra-curricular activities, such as representing The University of Auckland at the World Universities Debating Championships and at international and national business strategy competitions. James is also heavily involved with SavY, a charitable trust that runs financial literacy workshops in high schools.

James said the scholarship would ease financial pressures in his final year of university.

“It will enable me to focus on my studies and my new role as CEO of SavY. I also have a big love of travel, and would like to visit South America between finishing university and starting work.”

ENDS

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