Just weeks after being announced a recipient of the coveted Rhodes Scholarship, Kerry Porrill was awarded Stellenbosch University’s top honour – the Chancellor’s Medal (2025).

The Chancellor’s Medal was first instituted in 1961. Annually, the University awards only one Chancellor’s Medal to a final-year or postgraduate student who has not only excelled academically but has also contributed to campus life in various ways and worked hard at developing co-curricular attributes.

Porrill is a graduate from the Mathematics Division within the Faculty of Science and this week graduated with a BSc Honours in Mathematics. She has had an outstanding academic career. At undergraduate level, she obtained a mark of 90% or above for more than half of her modules. At postgraduate level, she achieved 100% for two of her modules and distinctions in all the others.

She is also a co-author of a paper, titled Some structural aspects of the ring of arithmetical functions: Prime ideals and beyond. Apart from her exceptional academic achievements, she has been involved in various other important initiatives.

Over the past four years, she has excelled in national and international mathematics competitions. Earlier this year, she was placed in joint 109th position at the International Mathematics Competition for University Students, held in Bulgaria. In 2024, she and another student were placed as the third-best pair in the West Division of the Simon Marais Mathematics Competition.

Porrill has also contributed to developing a strong culture of Olympiad mathematics by supporting and coaching young mathematicians. This year, she served as team leader for South Africa at the European Girls’ Mathematics Olympiad and was the coordinator for the 2024 Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad. She also served as deputy leader for South Africa’s International Mathematics Olympiad team in 2024 and 2025.

Porrill, who will continue her studies in mathematics next year at the University of Oxford, described receiving the award as “unbelievable.” “It is such a great honour. I am so honoured to receive this (award).”

Click here to read more about Porrill’s Rhodes Scholarship.