Making DUT extremely proud is sixth-year Durban University of Technology Chiropractic Master’s student, Hannah Lenka McKay, who is the recipient of the prestigious Abe Bailey Travel Bursary.
The Abe Bailey Travel Bursary is awarded to outstanding students who have shown exceptional leadership qualities with strong service ethics, qualities that McKay undoubtedly possesses and was clearly evident in her winning the award. DUT hosted a celebratory tea for McKay in honour of her outstanding triumph, at the International Education and Partnerships Board Room, M L Sultan Campus, Wednesday (25 October 2017).
“I did not realise the magnitude of winning such an award and I would really like to thank Dr Lavern Samuels, DUT Director of the International Education and Partnerships and his team for making this wonderful opportunity possible,” said the ecstatic McKay.
According to Dr Lavern Samuels, DUT Director of the International Education and Partnerships, he said that McKay was the 27th recipient of the bursary.
“We at DUT are really proud of her and as an Abe Bailey winner she is now following in the footsteps of previous winners such as Judge Richard Goldstone, Dr Zach De Beer and the late Phillip Tobias, to name but a few. She now has the privilege to be part of such a legacy with such stalwarts and become a great ambassador for South Africa and DUT. It’s important to have role models such as her who have become a leader in her field and community. Also, I know she has plans to move to Canada so she that she can further her chiropractic studies in the field of Paediatric Chiropractic, but I do hope she will continue to engage and support DUT,” he said.
Also congratulating McKay was Professor Ashley Ross: Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, who said that her winning such a prestigious award was quite life-changing as he had heard from previous past winners from DUT. “Her application stuck out from the rest, so well done to her and I know she is going to make DUT proud,” he said.
McKay’s proud parents and fiancée were also in attendance to congratulate her on her success, adding that she always excelled in whatever she embarked on,” they added. She is currently completing her Master’s thesis in the field of neurophysiology as well as completing her chiropractic internship. McKay leaves for the United Kingdom on 23 November 2017.
Pictured: At the celebratory tea are Dr Lavern Samuels, Hannah Lenka McKay, (recipient the 2015 Abe Bailey Travel Bursary) and Dr Joshua Korten (McKay’s fiancée).
Waheeda Peters
