Graduate Always Finds Time for Fun while Achieving Academic Excellence

BY: .

BSc Honours degree summa cum laude graduate Miss Heather Prince says she always finds time to have fun away from her hectic academic schedule. 

Prince received the Rhodes University Foundation Scholarship in 2012 and was also awarded a bursary from the SA Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project last year. 

Currently pursuing a Masters degree in Astrophysics at UKZN, she developed an interest for astrophysics at the end of her third year of studies when she ‘became interested in galaxies and the various phenomena in outer space’. 

She has a history of academic excellence and matriculated as one of the top 10 learners in a public school in the National Senior Certificate examinations in KwaZulu-Natal in 2009. Her numerous academic achievements include being awarded the Dean’s Commendation, the David Williams Memorial Prize for Mathematics, the Alexander Ogg Prize for Physics in recognition of Academic Achievement, the Physics Award for Outstanding Excellence, the Investec Rhodes Top 100 Award for Academic Excellence in Science in 2012 and the Rhodes Governors Scholarship for Top second year student in the Faculty of Science or Pharmacy in 2011. 

‘My success is based on the fact that while I do work extremely hard, I am also able to find a good balance between work and play. I would not be able to study effectively if I didn’t have enough time to relax.’ 

After completing her Master’s degree, Prince intends registering for a PhD and joining the world of academia as a lecturer and researcher. 

-          Strini Rajgopaul