Vietnamese students compete for Swinburne scholarship
In Summary
Van Viet Duc has been named Vietnam’s best and brightest young high school student, as the champion of Vietnam’s most watched television show, Way to Olympia Peak.
He has won a full scholarship to attend Swinburne University of Technology and a US$35,000 prize from multinational conglomerate LG.
The national game show was broadcast live across Vietnam on Sunday 16 August 2015.
Way to Olympia Peak is well-known throughout Vietnam, and is the longest running and most watched show on Vietnamese television.
It encourages academic learning and brings together the brightest secondary students in the country, asking them questions about a wide range of topics including geography, history, poetry, linguistics and science.
“This year, we are celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the program,” Swinburne Vice-President International and Students, Jeffrey Smart, said.
“Swinburne is proud to have been building a strong relationship with VTV3 and LG Electronics, and sponsoring the program over the last 14 years.
“Some of the winners have continued to honours and postgraduate study, while many have moved on to successful careers in Australia and Vietnam.
“They are some of our most outstandingly gifted students, and amazing ambassadors for Vietnam.”
Deputy Ambassador, Australian Embassy in Vietnam, Mr Layton Pike, presented the prize money and scholarship.
Swinburne has supported Way to Olympia Peak since its inception, contributing scholarships and other assistance worth more than $1 million to provide opportunities for the winners.