UA31502 Impact of Giving 2025 - A4 FINAL Web version 22.5.25 - Flipbook - Page 11
Sisanda Mhlanga
Impact of Giving
Walter and
Dorothy’s
legacy
Walter Duncan,
circa 1930
Your legacy
Gifts in Wills provide vital
support to our students through
scholarships, enable our
researchers to address the world’s
greatest problems and provide the
finest facilities and equipment for
learning and discovery.
A gift in your Will can honour
your life’s work, pay tribute to a
loved one, invest in an area you
are passionate about, or leave an
enduring legacy to support future
generations of students.
For more information about
leaving a gift in your Will, visit:
adelaide.edu.au/give/
a-gift-in-your-will
For nearly 40 years, the endowed Walter & Dorothy
Duncan Trust, which was established through a
bequest to the University of Adelaide, has been
transforming lives through education, providing
more than $1 million in grants to over 1,600
students in financial need.
Among the many recipients is Sisanda,
a PhD candidate in Medicine, whose
journey has been profoundly shaped by
this generous support.
Born in Zimbabwe, Sisanda’s passion
for science was inspired by her parents
– a nurse and a science teacher – who
made great sacrifices to create better
opportunities for their family. “My
dream growing up has always been to
become a Medical Doctor,” she shares.
Thanks to the Walter & Dorothy Duncan
Trust Scholarship, Sisanda was able to
attend the Nutrition 2024 Conference
in Chicago, where she presented her
research on colorectal cancer and
Crohn’s on an international stage. “The
scholarship was instrumental in shaping
my academic and professional trajectory,
granting me opportunities that would
have otherwise been out of reach.”
Sisanda credits the scholarship with
playing a key role in her transition from
a Master of Philosophy in Medical
Science to a PhD program, which she
expects to complete by mid-2026.
“The scholarship was a turning
point in my academic career,
opening doors to international
networking, publishing, and
research opportunities that
have profoundly shaped my
development as a researcher.”
“It has empowered me to pursue
opportunities that have advanced
my work and opened new doors.
The impact goes far beyond financial
assistance – it provides the chance for
students like me to make a difference
in the world which I dream of doing
in my future medical career.”
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