The Oppidan Press would like to announce that Kathryn McConnachie has belatedly been included as an Investec Rhodes Top 100 student in the General Category.
Due to an administrative error, Kathryn’s application was mistakenly disqualified prior to publication of the Top 100 Edition. The Oppidan Press and Dean of Students Office would like to extend their sincere apologies to Kathryn for the error, and congratulate her on the award.
Kathryn McConnachie is a final year Journalism and Media Studies Student specialising in New Media. She received the ITWeb New Media scholarship for 2010, as well as awards for being the top Journalism student in both her first and second year. McConnachie was also the recipient of the Eastern Cape Premier Scholarship in 2006 for having the top matric results in the Grahamstown district. A dedicated animal rights activist, McConnachie has been involved with the Rhodes Organisation for Animal Rights since 2007. She chaired the society for two years and initiated the first ever Animal Rights Awareness Week on campus – the event is the only one of its kind at any tertiary institution in the country. During her term as chairperson, ROAR was recognised by international animal rights group, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) as the “most active student animal rights group on the continent”. Apart from various awareness campaigns, McConnachie has also organised fundraising initiatives for local animal welfare organisations such as the “Sponsor-a-Spay” drive, which funds the sterilisation of pets for those who can’t afford it. McConnachie was also the Head Student of Allan Gray House in 2008, the top student in her year in Drostdy Hall in both her first and second year. She has been on the Dean’s List since 2007, has academic half-colours and is a member of the Golden Key Society.