The K.C. Whittaker Endowment Foundation has been a significant influence on the academic trajectory of twenty-five female students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), providing crucial financial support under the Dr. K.C Whittaker Endowment Fund. Established in 1998 by Mrs Rose Whittaker, the fund, initially designed to award extraordinary female students in physics, has grown to encompass a substantial package of Gh₵87,500, distributed amongst the students in six categories: 16 undergraduates and 9 postgraduate students. Each recipient received a Gh₵3,500 stipend, initiated by the foundation’s initial goal of bolstering female student choice in the demanding field of physics. Professor Caleb Kesse Frimpong, Head of the Department for Biochemistry and Biotechnology at KNUST, underscored the importance of this support, stating that ‘One of the greatest educationists once said, if you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a whole nation.’ For continuously supporting our female students for nearly three decades, the institution is most grateful to the Whittaker Foundation. Professor Frimpong also emphasized that this award has been particularly beneficial for students considering pursuing physics as a career, and expressed excitement regarding the potential for further expansion of the foundation’s support to include former awardees to guide the new students.
The Whittaker Foundation’s commitment extends beyond immediate financial aid. A trustee of the foundation, Solomon Quanzie, announced plans to expand the endowment fund to include former awardees, offering mentorship opportunities to the new cohort of students. The foundation’s current funding level supports up to twenty-five students from BSc, MPhil, and PhD levels, demonstrating a sustained commitment to fostering female scientific talent at KNUST. This initiative has been instrumental in encouraging students to pursue physics, recognizing the crucial role of female representation in this field. Furthermore, the fund’s annual support for female physics students has reached over 350 exceptional individuals, and the foundation is committed to continuing its efforts in the coming years. The presentation ceremony included representatives from the Fund, including Chairman of the Trustees, Mr Eric Inkoomsah, Mr Ernest Prah, Mr Owusu, and Mrs Irene Schandorf. The annual funding supports a significant portion of the student’s tuition and fees, directly contributing to their academic success. Joyce Coffie, a Level 400 student who has been a beneficiary of the award since her first year, shared her experience. She stated, ‘The financial support has been extremely helpful to me, absolving my parents of the burden of paying my academic, hostel and other user fees. I don’t really come from a rich background, so it helps me pay my academic and many other user fees on campus, which gives me the peace of mind to study and not think about how to pay my fees and other stuff, so it has been very helpful.’ The scholarship scheme has inspired many students to pursue higher education and to enter the field of physics.
The K.C Whittaker Foundation has provided a crucial resource to KNUST’s female physics students for nearly three decades, and they are confident in continuing their support in the future. The establishment of this program has been a positive step toward increasing the diversity of the Physics field at KNUST. The project has been consistently supported by the faculty, and it is expected to benefit all students in the department.
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Source: Adom Online
