Uni of Adelaide gives $2.3 million in scholarships

David (left) and Michael Brown, from Beaumont, have become the first twins to receive the University of Adelaide's prestigious Adelaide Undergraduate Scholarships in the same year.
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Callum Agnew, from Karkoo on the Eyre Peninsula, is the 2011 winner of the prestigious Andy Thomas Scholarship.
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Sarah Petrou, from Salisbury North, is among this year's winners of the University of Adelaide Principals' Scholarships.
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Friday, 25 February 2011

More than 170 new students will benefit from a total of $2.3 million in scholarships awarded by the University of Adelaide this year.

The scholarships - aimed at supporting the best students, including those from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds - will be awarded at a special scholarships presentation ceremony today (Friday 25 February) at Bonython Hall.

Among this year's scholarship winners is the 2011 Andy Thomas Scholar: Callum Agnew, 17, from Karkoo, a remote centre north of Cummins on the Eyre Peninsula.

Other scholarship recipients include: twin brothers David and Michael Brown, 18, from Beaumont, who are both recipients of the prestigious Adelaide Undergraduate Scholarships; and Sarah Petrou, 18, from Salisbury North, who is among this year's winners of the University of Adelaide Principals' Scholarships.

"At the University of Adelaide, we are committed to giving able students real opportunities to succeed," says the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha.

"This year our commitment to scholarships has increased by more than half a million dollars to $2.3 million, which means we are now providing vital support to more students than ever before.

"Scholarships offer a range of benefits to students. They take the financial pressure off, helping students to focus on their education. In some cases, receiving a scholarship means students don't need to get a job to support themselves while they study. They can help to pay for textbooks, a new computer, or relocation costs from country areas to the city. Scholarships also act as an incentive for students to excel in their studies."

The scholarships being provided to new undergraduate students at today's ceremony are:

• Adelaide Undergraduate Scholarships - $10,300 per year for a maximum of four years*.
  Awarded to all new University of Adelaide students who receive an ATAR score of 99.95 (with no bonuses).
  This year, 29 Adelaide Undergraduate Scholarships will be given to new students, with a total commitment from the University of $1.19 million over the next four years.

• Andy Thomas Scholarship - $6000 per year for a maximum of four years, plus the cost of all Commonwealth contributions (ie, HECS fees) to a maximum of four years.
  The Scholarship - named in honour of University of Adelaide engineering graduate and NASA astronaut Dr Andy Thomas - is offered each year to an outstanding student studying Aerospace, Mechanical or Mechatronic engineering.
  The total value of this scholarship is approximately $55,000 over four years.

• University of Adelaide Principals' Scholarships - $5000 to assist with education/living costs for the first year of a student's program.
  These scholarships are available to students who have made a significant contribution to their school and to the wider community. Students must be nominated by their school principal to be eligible, and they must obtain an ATAR of 80 or greater (including bonus points).
  This year, 144 Principals' Scholarships are being awarded, with a total commitment from the University of $720,000.

At today's ceremony, the University will also present the Adelaide Outstanding Achiever Scholarships International, which have been won by four international students.

Background on individual students:

Adelaide Undergraduate Scholars

David and Michael Brown, 18, of Beaumont, have become the first twins to both receive the University of Adelaide's prestigious Adelaide Undergraduate Scholarship in the same year.
David is studying for a double degree - Bachelor of Engineering (Civil & Structural) and Bachelor of Finance - while Michael is studying for a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery.
Having completed Year 12 at Prince Alfred College together, each of the twins knew all too well what the other was going through. "For the most part we tried to study separately, but each of us has strengths in different areas and we were able to help each other out in that way," says Michael.
David says he chose engineering and finance partly because he wanted to "get a job straight out of uni, but also to have a second string to my bow". "I think I'd like to move into management eventually," he says.
Michael says he chose medicine because he wanted to "have a career where I can have interaction with people on a day-to-day basis". "Medicine is a constant challenge, it's always changing," he says.

Andy Thomas Scholar

Callum Agnew, 17, from Karkoo - a small, remote town north of Cummins on the Eyre Peninsula - is the 2011 winner of the prestigious Andy Thomas Scholarship.
Callum has received his scholarship for a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical & Aerospace) degree, and he is also studying for a Bachelor of Science degree, both at the University of Adelaide.
He completed his Year 12 at Cummins Area School, where he was dux of the school, but in order to study his much-loved subject of physics, Callum had to travel to Tumby Bay Area School about twice a week.
"I love physics and space and I have an interest in aviation, both the design and aerodynamics of it," says Callum. "I chose the double degree so I could combine my areas of interest in different ways."
He says winning the Andy Thomas Scholarship is a great feeling. "It's awesome. It means I won't need to get a job to support myself while I'm studying. The double degree will be fairly demanding - this should make things a bit less stressful," he says.

University of Adelaide Principals' Scholars

Sarah Petrou, 18, of Salisbury North was nominated for an Adelaide Principals' Scholarship by Parafield Gardens High School, where she was dux for 2010.
She is the first person in her immediate family to study at university and has chosen the Bachelor of Psychological Science at the University of Adelaide.
"I'm very much interested in social work, in helping people, and psychology is something that really appeals to me," she says. "Child psychology in particular is something that interests me - I think that would be really rewarding."

* indexed each year.

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