A KwaZulu-Natal youngster, who as a sickly child was raised with seven siblings by a physically challenged uncle, and is now studying human biology at Bioloa University in California, is in the running for a $100,000 Global Student Prize for nurturing young scientists.
Iziphozonke Mlambo (19), who plans to specialise as a gastroenterologist, was selected from almost 7,000 nominations and applications from 150 countries to make the Top 50 shortlist, reports TimesLIVE.
Global charity the Varkey Foundation, focused on improving standards of education for underprivileged children, partnered with Chegg.org to launch the annual Global Student Prize last year, a sister award to its $1m Global Teacher Prize.
The annual $100,000 award is given to an exceptional student who has made a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on society.
Students are assessed on their academic achievement, impact on their peers, how they make a difference in their community and beyond, how they overcome the odds to achieve, how they demonstrate creativity and innovation and how they operate as global citizens.
According to his profile on the Global Student Prize portal, Mlambo, who matriculated at Newcastle High, suffered with a weak immune system as a child and was often in and out of hospital. This inspired him to pursue medicine after seeing doctors working on the front line.
Raised with seven other dependants by his physically challenged uncle after his parents died, Mlambo excelled academically.
His pursuit to uplift disadvantaged children saw him co-found Science Buddies, a non-profit organisation that develops youth science talent. Science Buddies focuses on pupils from higher primary to high school, nurturing young scientists by providing them with the opportunity to participate in global science fairs and competitions while giving them access to personal professional mentors who assist them to develop their innovative ideas and solutions.
Science Buddies has reached more than 100 pupils from different backgrounds, connected them to more than 50 mentors, and partnered with more than 15 science fairs, societies and competitions worldwide. It is focused on a rural development project which targets science talent from rural poorer areas, working closely with government and schools to establish science centres and laboratories.
Mlambo also launched The Rising Stars Foundation non-profit organisation, which focuses on developing youth and is focusing on students with university and bursary applications.
He earned a full scholarship to Biola University after being selected as one of 300 top young scientists in the Global Regeneron Science talent competition in 2020.
Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation, said Mlambo’s story “is a testament to the crucial role education plays in building a better tomorrow for us all”.
“It is the key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges, from war and conflict to climate change to growing inequality.”
The top 10 finalists for the Global Student Prize are expected to be announced in August. The winner, announced later in the year, will be chosen from the top 10 finalists by the Global Student Prize Academy.
TimesLIVE article – Aspirant KZN doctor shortlisted for $100,000 global student prize (Open access)
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