Rhodes University was honoured to receive the biggest bequest from a single donor, Mr Elias Bertrand Levenstein and Ada Levestein, that the institution has ever received. The bequest cocktail function held yesterday (16 March) was graced by his niece Mrs Beverley Kirsch.
Mrs Kirsch said she felt honoured to be at the launch of the Ada & Bertie Levestein bursary as the only niece.
She highlighted that Bertie and Ada were passionate about education so it is no surprise that she is at such an event.
Mrs Kirsch added that throughout their lives Bertie and Ada were benefactors to many and they wanted to continue even when they were not here. Through this scheme they will continue being benefactors to many.
At the launch three bursary holders Sithembele Nkonkobe, PhD in Mathematics, Jessica Hutchinson, Masters in Computer Science, and Gwyndolen Ortner who is completing her Masters in German Studies all highlighted how the bursary is assisting them with their academic goals. They extended their gratefulness to Mrs Kirsch and the Levesteins.
Rhodes University’s Vice-Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela officially thanked Mrs Kirsch and through her, the Levestein family, whose bursary fund is helping academically talented but financially needy students access postgraduate qualifications at Rhodes University. Through their generosity, post-graduate students who might have been turned away at Rhodes University due to lack of funding are able to access post graduate studies.
Dr Mabizela stressed how grateful the University is for the funding with the University committing to ensuring that students from poor rural and working class backgrounds benefit from the outstanding educational experiences Rhodes offers.
He further added that as Vice-Chancellor he has made it his personal mission to strive to ensure that no academically talented but financially needy students are turned away from Rhodes University. The bequest by Elias and Ada Levestein is already assisting him in this endeavour.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Development, Dr Peter Clayton highlighted the role that the bursary will play in the lives of South Africans who wish to pursue post graduate studies at Rhodes.
Dr Clayton described the bursary as “timeless”, due to the fact that the money left to the University has been placed into perpetuity. The University has only used some of the interest of the money but the capital has not been touched, leading to the belief that the bursary scheme will be available for more than three generations to come.
Article by: Nomfundo Lukwe
Photo: Vice-Chancellor Dr Mabizela and Mrs Kirsch
Photo by: Hlumela Mkabile