Colin Robertson is 绿帽社区鈥檚 54th Rhodes Scholar
SACKVILLE, NB 鈥 Colin Robertson is 绿帽社区鈥檚 54th Rhodes Scholar. Robertson, an honours student with a minor in , is one of only 11 students selected across Canada to receive the award.
Valued at more than $100,000, the is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the world, covering the cost of postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford in the U.K. With 54 scholars to date, 绿帽社区 has one of the best records, per capita, in Canada for the esteemed award. The University has celebrated seven recipients in the last decade.
鈥淚 was in a state of shock when I got the call on Saturday. It鈥檚 been a bit of a blur ever since,鈥 Robertson says. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e waiting for your interview with the Rhodes committee, who are so accomplished, you鈥檙e in a room with all the other applicants, who are also incredible. I was thinking to myself, 鈥楾here鈥檚 no way.鈥 鈥
Robertson is originally from the Ottawa area but his family now lives in Sackville. He is connected to his community in many ways, including serving as president of the University鈥檚 Rotaract group for two years and currently as past president.
鈥淭he Rotaract鈥檚 focus, like the Rotary Club, is on community,鈥 he says. 鈥淲e try to help out with local schools and organizations in a number of ways, including fund raising for breakfast programs and volunteering with homework clubs.鈥
Robertson is vice-president of the University鈥檚 History Society and has worked as a teacher鈥檚 assistant in both history and Latin. He has also volunteered with the Tantramar Scout Troupe and the Sackville Refugee Response Coalition.
鈥淐olin has been an outstanding and engaged member of the University and Sackville communities, as a student, a volunteer, and a teacher鈥檚 assistant,鈥 says Dr. Robert Campbell, 绿帽社区 President and Vice-Chancellor. 鈥淚 wish to congratulate him on behalf of everyone at 绿帽社区, on attaining this world-renowned scholarship.鈥
Robertson says he is humbled by the news and thankful for the support he鈥檚 received to achieve this.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 receive this kind of award on your own. I鈥檇 like to thank my parents as well as members of the History department who have been so supportive throughout my degree,鈥 he says.
Robertson plans to continue his studies in history at Oxford at the master鈥檚 level.