By Patty Pitts
Khun Anand Panyarachun (left) and Khun Anak Patanavibool
Like many UVic graduate students, Khun Anak Patanavibool finds it costly to pursue a PhD-especially when he must conduct field work in his native Thailand to fulfill his degree requirements. But Khun Anak received some much-needed financial support recently when he was named the first recipient of UVic's $10,000 Anand Scholarship.
The award was established jointly by the former Prime Minister of Thailand and former Thai Ambassador to Canada, Khun Anand Panyarachun, who is UVic's Honorary Patron in Thailand, and UVic President Dr. David Strong to enable Thai undergraduate and graduate students to study at UVic and to support faculty exchanges and student study and work exchanges between Thai partner institutions and UVic. He presented Khun Anak with the inaugural scholarship at a special ceremony at the Canadian ambassador's official residence in Bangkok during a recent visit by a delegation from UVic.
Khun Anand was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at UVic in 1993 and was recently named Honorary Patron of the University. UVic's Board of Governors created the title of Honorary Patron to honour people who have made significant contributions to the University. International Honorary Patrons support partnership agreements with UVic in their home countries and, in doing so, attract talented scholars and students to attend the University.
Khun Anak is a wildlife biologist with Thailand's Royal Forestry Department. Following his graduation from UVic, he hopes to work as an environmental scientist in Thailand specializing in biodiversity. Anand Scholars are chosen annually under the co-direction of the President of UVic and Khun Anand.
"Khun Anak is highly deserving of this scholarship," says UVic
President Dr. David Strong. "He is an outstanding student and an exemplary
scholar who will use the scholarship to complete his research in an increasingly
important field. UVic will also benefit from his knowledge and his presence
on campus."