Dubai school student is named World’s Best Individual Senior Scholar

The annual tournament draws thousands of students from over 40 countries. The Top 100 teams advance to the Tournament of Champions at Yale University in the United States.

DUBAI // A GEMS Wellington International School student was named the World's Best Individual Senior Scholar after winning the World Scholars Cup Tournament of Champions recently held at Yale University.
Nora Jandhyala, a 17-year-old American in Year 12 at the Dubai private school, credited her love of learning, public speaking and writing for her victory.
"I think I was able to express myself really well in all of the debates, and also I really love writing," said Nora, who plans to study neuroscience in university. "I found the content of it really interesting as well."
Individuals and teams of students were challenged in writing, debating and cross-cultural learning as part of the week-long tournament.
The annual tournament draws thousands of students from over 40 countries. After a series of regional qualifying rounds, GEMS students took part in the Global Finals held last summer in Singapore, where they were among the Top 100 teams advance to the Tournament of Champions at Yale University in the United States. The Dubai team placed ninth overall.
"This is an outstanding achievement on behalf of our students," said Keith Miller, principal at GEMS Wellington International School. "Given the calibre of the students competing in this prominent academic contest, we are incredibly proud of our World Champion Scholar, Nora, who has stood out among her peers and claimed this World's Best Scholar title on behalf of her school and GEMS."
Nora, along with her Year 12 teammates Tanishk Shanker and Sebastian Menelaou, also placed second in the team debating competition, while other students from the school returned to Dubai laden with medals won in writing, academic challenges and individual debating contests.
"For me, it makes me proud of myself because now I can recognise that putting a lot of hard work and passion into something can really have a positive outcome for you," Nora said.
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