Commencing Scholars Welcomed to the ANU

25 new Tuckwell Scholars have commenced their studies at ANU to create a community of over 120 Tuckwell Scholars on campus. This year's new Scholars were selected in the first half of 2018 through a two stage online application form and an interview weekend held in Canberra during the July school holidays. 

Vice Chancellor, Professor Brian Schmidt joined Drs Graham and Louise Tuckwell in welcoming the students to the ANU at the sixth annual Tuckwell Commencement Weekend, held on 2 March. The event features a Lunch to which parents of the incoming Scholars are invited, as well as Commencement Dinner, where the new arrivals are 'rung in' using the Tuckwell Bell.

Commissioned by Graham and Louise Tuckwell, the Tuckwell Bell was cast by Britain's oldest manufacturing company, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. The crafting of this handbell from molten metal into sound signifies the transformative impact that the Tuckwell Scholarship program ay ANU will have on the lives of the Tuckwell Scholars. During the Commencement Ceremony, The Bell Ringer, elected by their peers from the previous year's cohort, rings the Tuckwell Bell once for each new Scholar to welcome them to the program.

The Commencement Weekend was also an opportunity to recognise the achievements of Scholars who have completed their studies at ANU and are amongst the first of the Program's growing Alumni network. There are now 20 Alumni of the program.