Austin College senior Ganesh B. Maniam of the Phi Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (APO) is the sole recipient of the international APO John Mack Scholarship at its top award level of $5,000 for the current academic year. APO is a national coeducational service organization founded on the principles of leadership, friendship, and service. It provides its members the opportunity to develop leadership skills as they volunteer on their campus, in their community, and within the organization.
The John Mack scholarship is for APO members who exhibit leadership and participation in extracurricular activities to benefit charitable or humanitarian organizations in need. This year, the award was increased from $500 to a tiered award structure of $1,000, $2,250, and $5,000 scholarships.
“This fraternity has done so much for me, both in regards to my personal and professional growth,” Maniam said. “I truly credit APO with so many of my major life decisions: my decision to apply for an Austin College Global Outreach Fellowship, my decision to go to medical school, my decision to dream of joining Doctors without Borders…the list is endless. Upon graduation, I feel that my experiences in the Phi Xi chapter will continue to inspire me to always do more, serve others, and be better.”
Maniam, of The Woodlands, Texas, served as president of Phi Xi Chapter in 2015-2016, the year the group earned the National Chapter of Excellence Award at the Gold Level. At Austin College, he also has earned recognition as the 2016 Oscar C. Page Servant of the Year, and received the Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship, The Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Erwin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies, Global Outreach Fellowship, and the Robert Bradshaw Memorial Scholarship for Campus Leadership. He is a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honorary Society of Economics, Campus Activities Board, the Indian Cultural Association, and the Austin College Service Station Board. Maniam is consistently named to the Austin College Dean’s List for academic achievement.
The Phi Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega received the national Chapter of Excellence Award at the Diamond Level in 2016 for outstanding work in demonstrating the pillars of leadership, friendship, and service.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates and inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.