Twenty-three brilliant female students from the Department of Physics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi have been awarded scholarships worth GHS 69,000 by the Dr. J.C. Whittaker Foundation

The support, facilitated through the Board of Trustees of the Dr. J.C. Whittaker Endowment Fund, provided each beneficiary with GHS 3,000. This initiative seeks to promote female participation and academic excellence in physics at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, the Provost of the College of Science, Professor Leonard Amekudzi, praised the initiative and highlighted its significant impact.

“Before the award, there were no female faculty in the Physics Department. Today, we witness a remarkable shift, female enrolment in physics has significantly increased. We are proud to now have female faculty members shaping minds, conducting cutting-edge research, and inspiring the next generation of scientists,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the Board of Trustees for their continuous commitment and stewardship, which have helped sustain the impact of the initiative.

Representing the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Irene Schandorf recounted the origin of the Dr. J.C. Whittaker Endowment Fund, which was established in 1998 to annually support female students pursuing degrees in physics.

“We started with a humble one female student in 1998. The numbers have multiplied over the years, and presently, that small fund which started in 1998 is now supporting over 20 BSc students, MPhil and PhD,” she noted.

She revealed that this year, the Foundation is supporting 16 BSc Physics female students, 4 MPhil Geophysics students, 2 MPhil Nuclear Science and Technology students, and 1 MPhil Materials Science student.

Professor Mercy Badu, General Secretary for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (WiSTEM), encouraged the awardees to make the most of the opportunity and continue striving for excellence in the field of physics. He urged them to return and give back to the department and the university in future.

“Take advantage of the money given to you and continue to excel in the field and come back to give back to the department and the university as well,” she advised.

Speaking on behalf of all the beneficiaries, Wilhelmina Sharon Jones expressed gratitude to the Foundation for the support and assured them of the judicious use of the funds received.