Students value a helping hand

Two promising University of Adelaide first-year students can vouch for the impact a scholarship can have on a young life.

Kathryn Grocke and Peter Pham are this year's recipients of the prestigious Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships.

Funded entirely by donations from alumni and the University community, the scholarships support outstanding students who experience geographic and/or financial disadvantage for the duration of their degree.

Kathryn and Peter bring to nine the total number of students at the University of Adelaide currently supported by Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships - a figure that pleases the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha.

"Since it began in 2003, we have offered 18 Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships to worthy students who have been faced with financial obstacles to study," he said in launching the 2011 Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship Funds Appeal.

"Nine of these students are still studying for their undergraduate degrees at the University, and next year this number will rise to 11.

"We want the best and brightest students to attend the University of Adelaide and the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships give these students the opportunity to do this, regardless of their backgrounds." ■

Story Ben Osborne