Old Boy Inducted into US Honour Society

BGS Old Boy Ashmit Vyas ’17 has been granted membership to the oldest honour society in the United States.

Vyas, who recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Economics, was admitted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society, which was founded in 1776 and celebrates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.

“The coursework was intensive, but it was tremendously rewarding to work with some of the brightest minds in the field,” he said.

Despite outstanding academic achievements at the Ivy League university, Vyas said his favourite moments at UPenn “have all taken place outside of the classroom”.

During his time in the US, Vyas has captained the university football team to a national championship, debated in Washington DC and attended lectures by President Joe Biden and best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell.

Vyas said his diverse interests were nurtured at BGS, where he made lifelong friends and was taught to prioritise continuous learning “above awards and accolades”.

“I distinctly remember psychoanalysing Shakespeariancharacters in English, critiquing military strategies in History, designing investment strategies in Economics, and making hot air balloons in Chemistry,” he said.

“At the time, it all felt like fun and games, but I now realise that these experiences were invaluable to my development as a critical thinker.

“More importantly, I found lifelong friends in school. I was able to surround myself with people who not only provided great company but also inspired, encouraged, and challenged me.

“My first year at UPenn was difficult; I broke my ankle in my first football game, dealt with homesickness, and struggled in some classes.

“Despite being halfway across the world, I was able to rely on the support of my school friends to overcome those challenges.”

To Vyas – who now has offers to study a Master’s degree at Oxford, Cambridge and the London School of Economics – the pursuit of excellence is all about striving for personal growth.

“Brisbane Grammar School’s ability to produce so many outstanding students is no accident – it’s the product of culture where every boy is encouraged to push his own boundaries every single day.”