Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong uses award winnings to launch scholarship fund
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Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong marked the launch of the state-of-the-art Tebello Nyokong Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation in Makhanda by establishing a scholarship fund for master’s and PhD students. This initiative is funded by her personal award winnings accumulated over the years.
Dist. Prof. Nyokong, a globally recognised expert in nanotechnology, has earned numerous accolades throughout her illustrious career. She announced she had been investing her winnings – now amounting to approximately R3.5 million – and will be using this to create the Tebello Nyokong Scholarship Fund. The announcement of the scholarship marked the culmination of an exceptional launch week for the Nyokong Institute, hosted by Rhodes University.
“That money was always meant for you,” she told her students when announcing the scholarship, emphasising that her awards are a testament to their academic excellence.
Dist. Prof. Nyokong described her personal contribution as merely the starting point of a larger legacy. She urged her current and former students, industry stakeholders and the broader scientific community to contribute to the fund’s growth.
Deputy director of the Nyokong Institute, Prof. Philani Mashazi, explained: “Prof [Nyokong] has in essence multiplied herself through us and we cannot let this legacy go by. To tap into the brightest young minds, we need them to be sustained and supported. Starting this fund is meant to do that.”
