Media Release
March 21 2011
Rural Reconnect helps country students reach potential
Four
young women from the country have been awarded a UniSA scholarship to
help them settle into university life in the city.
Julia Jacob from Geranium, Amy Hunt from Mundulla, Tamsin Scholz from
Wudinna and Megan Freckleton from Haven (Victoria) have been awarded the
John and Johan Høj Rural Reconnect Scholarships.
The scholarships, valued at $6000 each, were established through the
philanthropy of
Vice Chancellor Peter Høj’s family to help students from rural and
isolated areas fund the relocation costs associated with moving to the
city in order to pursue full-time undergraduate study. Without
assistance, such students might not otherwise get the opportunity to
educate themselves to express their full potential.
UniSA’s
Deputy Vice Chancellor Joanne Wright said she was delighted four
young women of such high calibre had won the scholarships.
“These students all achieved a final Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank
(ATAR) of 99 or higher, which is testimony to their abilities and
individual desire for achievement,” Prof Wright says.
“The scholarships are designed to help country students settle into life
in the city and to be successful in their university studies. I wish
them all the best in their journey with UniSA.”
Seventeen-year-old Tamsin Scholz has moved 600km from a farm near
Wudinna on Upper Eyre Peninsula to study at UniSA’s Magill Campus.
Tamsin, who is undertaking a
Bachelor of Journalism/Bachelor of Arts (International Studies),
says the scholarship has relieved pressure on her family to help her
move from the country to the city. She says she is settling in well to
her double degree and already has her sights set on working as a print
journalist when she graduates.
Amy Hunt grew up on a farm near Mundulla in the South East and is
studying a
Bachelor of Physiotherapy at City East Campus. Amy, 18, says the
scholarship has definitely made it easier for her to move to the city
and start her studies.
“It means I can focus on moving away from home and settling into my
studies without having to worry about a part-time job straight away, and
it reduces the pressure on my parents as well,” Amy says.
“I’m really excited about studying physiotherapy because it combines all
my interests. I love sport and the human body is something that
fascinates me and I enjoy learning about its intricacies and abilities.
When I graduate, I’d love to work either as a sports physio or a physio
in a rural area, where there is a great need.”
Megan Freckleton, 20, says the scholarship has been a big help in moving
to Adelaide from Haven near Horsham in Victoria.
“It means going to university is not the financial struggle it would
have been ... there’s still a lot of pressure, but it certainly eases
that pressure especially with finding accommodation away from home,”
says Megan, who took a gap year in 2010.
Megan believes she may return to the country for work after she
completes her
Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) at City East
Campus.
“Occupational therapy is a profession where you can have a relationship
with people, not a relationship with a computer or a book ... you can
make a real difference in people’s lives,” she says.
Also studying Occupational Therapy is Julia Jacob, who is looking
forward to a career where she can give back to the community. Julia, 18,
grew up on the family farm at Geranium in the Mallee, and says the
scholarship has been a fantastic help in relocating to Adelaide.
“The scholarship enables me to focus fully on my university studies and
not have to worry about working part-time,” Julia says.
Information about the John and Johan Høj Rural Reconnect Scholarships
can be found at
www.unisa.edu.au/scholarships
Media contact
- Kelly Stone office (08) 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au