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Aakash Singh was attending Westlake Boys High School in New Zealand when he found his dream degree. He worked hard to finish his high schooling, and his academic achievements were recognised when he applied for the ������, receiving the Chancellor’s Award which supported his move to Sydney.

Now, in the final year of his double degree in Civil Engineering and Architecture, Aakash is the recipient of this year’s Murray Rainsford Smith prize. For him, the award’s significance extends beyond academics.��

“Learning about Murray Rainsford Smith’s studies, service and ultimately, sacrifice was incredibly moving,” Aakash said. “Knowing that he made such sacrifices at 22, the same age I am now, allowed me to reflect on how different our realities are and how much was given so that mine could be possible.”��

“My parents made sacrifices so that I could pursue a tertiary education, my mum was 22 when she had to leave her university degree. When I told mum about the award, she was emotional, she saw her own story reflected in its history. It came from a mum who wanted to make sure her son, who wasn’t able to fulfill his dreams, would be remembered, and that resonated, because I moved to Sydney with my Mum’s support, to fulfill my dreams.”

For Aakash, the prize is a reminder of the legacy that education and philanthropy can carry. “Receiving this prize is not just a recognition of academic performance, but a reminder of how fortunate I am to live in a time and place where I can pursue my passions freely,” he said.��

That enduring connection, between past and present, between one young life cut short and the many shaped by his memory, lies at the heart of the Prize.��

“It’s not a huge amount of money,” Professor Khan acknowledged, “but it’s enough to signify to a student that they’ve been recognised. That they’ve done well.”��

It’s a sentiment that speaks to the deeper role of philanthropy, not just as financial support, but to recognise and give credit to those doing good work. It’s also a way of connecting generations and preserving stories that might otherwise fade.����

As Professor Khan put it: “The fact that Murray Rainsford Smith is someone we can talk about and acknowledge more than 100 years later shows that philanthropy is an effective way of preserving somebody's legacy and memory.”��

For Aakash, the experience has become a moment of clarity and inspiration. “It has inspired me to continue making the most of the opportunities available to me with purpose and gratitude,” he said. “It’s easy to lose perspective and take that for granted. This story brought it back into sharp focus and it’s something I’ll carry with me.”