Alice Dawkins first SA student to win Schwarzman scholarship, rival to Rhodes scholarship

BAROSSA Valley resident Alice Dawkins is the first South Australian to win an elite Schwarzman Scholarship, the new rival to the prestigious Rhodes scholarship.

Alice Dawkins, winner of the 2018 Schwarzman Scholarship, at her old school Loreto College. Picture: Dylan Coker

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BAROSSA Valley resident Alice Dawkins is the first South Australian to win an elite Schwarzman Scholarship, the new rival to the prestigious Rhodes scholarship.

Schwarzman is a global program preparing the next generation of world leaders, but the Eden Valley-based 24-year old is keen to apply all she learns in her own back yard.

With honours degrees in Asian Studies and Law from Australian National University, Ms Dawkins will spend a year in Beijing studying a master’s program focusing on China’s expanding role in the world. “I’d really like to come home and contribute to helping the explosion of Chinese investment in SA and the Barossa Valley in particular to become sustainable,” she said.

“There’s a positive message to be made about Chinese investment and tourism and I’d like to help counter the sense of evasion some people have. I want to help locals become comfortable about the benefits of Chinese investment – but also aware of the pitfalls.”

Funded with $130 million from Donald Trump adviser, Stephen A. Schwarzman, the 2018 cohort of scholars will begin courses from August at the purpose-built Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Alice Dawkins is one of only 142 Schwarzman scholars selected from more than 4000 applications, from 153 countries. Picture: Dylan Coker

The former Loreto College student is one of only 142 Schwarzman scholars selected from more than 4000 applications, from 153 countries.

Ms Dawkins, who took French and Chinese at Loreto before spending a year studying in Beijing, is keen to promote the benefits of learning a language in high school.

“Even if you don’t want to go on to tertiary education learning, a foreign language is valuable and Chinese is one of the best,” she said.

“I know some Australian families get Chinese tutors for their kids but the case in South Australia to learn Chinese still needs to be made and more schools should offer it.”

Ms Dawkins also received the 2016 New Colombo Plan award to Myanmar. She spent a year studying in the country, speaks six languages, has founded two online journals aimed at connecting emerging scholars and had an article accepted by the New York Times this year.

Loreto history department head, Paul Foley, follows his former student’s career with pride. “Alice has continued her passion for history and most importantly her passion for social justice on a global scale,” the National President of the History Teachers Association of Australia said.

“She’s one of a new generation of activists looking at our major issues in our neighbourhood of South East Asia that directly impact on our foreign affairs that’s important for all Australians.”

Despite being chosen for a program that seeks to identify future world leaders, Ms Dawkins is wary of a political career. She is the daughter of Maggie Dawkins, a former adviser to former Labor leader Kim Beazley, and former federal Treasurer, John Dawkins.

“People who say they want to be in politics at my age are more interested in power than service,” she said.

“Service is where I feel more comfortable and I feel uncomfortable seeing myself as a leader.”