April 27, 2017

Casey Lee Hull Memorial scholarship awarded to high-achieving student

Medicinal chemistry student awarded memorial scholarship. 

A Southern Highlands high school graduate has been awarded the 2017 Casey-Lee Hull Memorial Scholarship for attaining the highest raw ATAR score for the previous year and completing In2Uni’s University Preparation Program (UPP).

The UPP initiative, now in its fourth year, is for Year 12 students at high schools in the Illawarra and South East regions who are completing subjects leading to an ATAR and want additional support to get into their chosen course at university.

Casey-Lee Hull, of Oak Flats, was part of the first cohort of students to participate in the UPP in 2014, but was tragically killed in a car accident before finishing the program and her HSC. The scholarship in her name will award $1,000 to an eligible student and Casey-Lee’s family will retain the perpetual trophy.

The 2017 recipient is Jessica Semkin, a Chevalier College graduate who is completing a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours, Dean’s Scholar).

“I’d always had an interest in science and doing the UPP program helped me make up my mind to do chemistry,” she said.

“It was really great to get an understanding of the subject from other students doing similar courses, and having a tutor with similar interests.”

Jessica, who is now in her first session at UOW, hopes to one day move into pharmaceutical research and apply her skills in medicinal chemistry.

In 2016 more than 400 Year 12 students took part in the UPP across UOW campuses in Wollongong, Bega, Batemans Bay, Shoalhaven and the Southern Highlands.

Over two school terms, UPP participants have received assistance with their HSC subjects through an on-campus study centre, access to UOW resources such as the library, advice on study skills and mentoring to discuss their post high school options.

Students who successfully completed the program were also eligible for an interview as part of UOW’s Early Admission’s program – with more than 75 per cent of students interviewed being given an offer to study at UOW last year.