December 20, 2019

Vice-Chancellor congratulates top HSC performers

High-achieving students encouraged to join UOW cohort

University of Wollongong (UOW) Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE, together with senior academic staff, welcomed up to 300 potential students including top HSC performers for a scholarship reception at Novotel Wollongong yesterday (Thursday 19 December).

The annual event is held shortly after ATARs are released and gives the Vice-Chancellor the opportunity to recognise the hard work and dedication of the elite group of students.

“These students have shown commitment and dedication to their studies over the past few years and put in a tremendous effort in their HSC,” Professor Wellings said.

“This kind of commitment is precisely what we want to see at our university and I am honoured to invite these students and congratulate them in person for what they have achieved.”

Professor Wellings shared his own experiences on his path to academia, including how he planned to be an orthodontist before eventually discovering an interest in complex science.

His peripatetic upbringing, in India, Africa, and the United Kingdom, also added to his sense of adventure, Professor Wellings said, particularly when he had the opportunity to work abroad later in his career.

He encouraged the students to pursue a degree they are interested in, rather than one that will simply look good on their resume or to please their family.

The top 250 students from the Illawarra, Southern Sydney, South Western and Western Sydney, Southern Highlands, ACT and South Coast regions were offered a $1000 scholarship package if they enrolled at UOW in 2020.

UOW Ramsay Scholars, Early Admission Scholarship recipients and applicants eligible for the Global Leaders Program were also invited, bringing attendance numbers to 300 potential students.

Professor Wellings spoke to students about the raft of opportunities on offer at UOW, including the Dean’s Scholar initiative and advanced programs available to high achieving students.

Academic and student admission staff were on hand to provide advice and assistance to high school leavers.