Alexander Ross will leave the University of Otago Business School to study in England. Photo / Dean Purcell
Alex Ross isn't quite sure what his dream job is, but he reckons it will involve being in a boardroom and making big decisions.
The 18-year-old's vision of being a top executive has had a big boost, with him being named named as this year's Doug Myers Scholarship
recipient.
The honour, worth about $150,000, will enable Mr Ross to study economics and maths at Cambridge University for three years from September.
It is the eighth time the scholarship has been awarded.
Multi-millionaire businessman Doug Myers, who went to the top British university in the late 1950s and early 1960s, said Mr Ross's ambition showed he had "stretched horizons".
While Mr Ross's academic prowess - which gained four scholarships in last year's exam round - was important, his attitude was too.
"He's got the brains to be an academic but he wants to get involved in life, in whatever capacity," Mr Myers said of the former Wellington College student.
"The intelligence was right up there - he's a sportsman, he was the head boy of one of the top schools in New Zealand."
Mr Ross showed his determination in running the equivalent of three marathons in less than two days as a Year 12 student in a fundraising "run-a-thon".
He admitted to being a bit sore afterwards, but said the last lap gave a taste of victory.
"One of my main things is that I'm very determined and focused. I don't like failure.
"I know that if I really concentrate on something I can do a better job than what I would otherwise and I don't want to let myself down."
His run raised $1004 for charity.
Myers Scholarship selection committee chair John Taylor said that seven of 45 applicants were shortlisted.
The shortlist had one more name than usual because of the high calibre of candidates.
