Talented high school students gain UWS places

13 students from Wyndham College and Terra Sancta College will celebrate university study achievements at an awards ceremony at the UWS Blacktown Campus on Wednesday, 5th June 2013.

The ceremony will mark the success of students who have finished a UWS course unit as part of a special program for the schools at the Nirimba Education Precinct.

All the students did impressively, with results ranging from credits to high distinctions.  Each student will receive a pre-HSC offer later this year into a UWS course for 2014.

The 10 students who received distinctions or high distinctions will benefit from the extra rewards the program offers including:

• $500 study grant to help with their HSC year.
• The offer of a conditional Academic Excellence Scholarship of $5,000 per year for up to four years of study at UWS.
• An automatic interview for entry to the University’s highly-regarded and competitive Aspire Future Leaders program.
• Results in university units to be taken into account should students apply for alternative entry into UWS in future years.

The students complete their units with the UWS pathways college, UWSC, which has its main base at the precinct.

“We are proud to be able to offer these talented high school students pre-HSC offers which should take a bit of pressure off them during year 12,” says Anne McLean, Manager Schools Engagement at UWS.

“Students will hopefully be in a more relaxed frame of mind when they sit their exams, knowing a place at UWS is assured, and this should help them to do their best.  I’m sure though that this group of students would do well regardless, as they have managed to finish a UWS unit while still at school and gained excellent results,” she said.

“The two schools are great partners and make sure their students have every chance to succeed.  We are looking forward to congratulating these high-achievers and meeting their families on Wednesday.”

The full list of students who have successfully completed a UWS unit are:

Terra Sancta College Students

James Garcia - Principles of Economics Cr

John James - Engineering Design and Construction Practice HD

Amy Schmitz - Marketing Principles HD

Brooke Wright - Psychology and Health D

Wyndham College Students

Andrew Barker Psychology and Health HD

Serene El-Kamand - Marketing Principles D

Brandon Gerial - Principles of Economics  D

Karina Giggins - Introduction to Human Biology Cr

Blake Hawkins - Principles of Economics  HD

Mitchell Johnson - Marketing Principles Cr

Anisha Kumar - Marketing Principles HD

Natasha Morgan - Psychology of Health HD

Petra Samson - Introduction to Business Law D

Speaking at the ceremony will be Professor Clive Smallman, Dean of Business, UWS, along with the Principals from Terra Sancta College and Wyndham College, followed by a student from each school.

The ceremony will also include presentation of the Zonta Scholarship by Ms Donna Fraser, Secretary/Treasurer of the Zonta Club of Sydney Hills.  This scholarship is awarded to a female University Foundation Studies student at UWSC whose capacity to reach educational goals is reduced due to personal circumstances.

The Nirimba Precinct partnership is part of the University of Western Sydney’s Schools Engagement Program which provides primary and high school students with opportunities to not only improve their academic performance, but also expand their horizons.