Somerville House student, Isabella Ostini, has been named as one of only twenty five young Australians to be awarded a Tuckwell Scholarship, worth up to $108,500 over five years.
The Year 12 student will be following her dream to move to Canberra to study a double degree in International Security and Political Science at the Australian National University (ANU), in 2017.
Of 700 students to apply for the scholarship, Isabella was among those shortlisted to be flown to Canberra to be interviewed by the university.
Isabella received a phone call while in the car with her family earlier this week to advise that she had been selected for the scholarship.
“It’s very exciting, I’ve always wanted to go to ANU. My mum cried when I told her,” she said.
The prestigious Tuckwell Scholarship is awarded to school-leavers of outstanding ability who are determined to make their mark on the world.
Isabella’s advice to younger students looking at their options for university, would be “To talk to their teachers and careers counsellors, and not to underestimate themselves. It was my teachers at Somerville House who encouraged and inspired me to apply and who have helped me all the way through.”
When asked about her career aspirations, Isabella commented “I’d like to work for an organisation like the Red Cross or the United Nations”.
The $21,700 funding per annum, supported through the generosity of the Graham and Louise Tuckwell Foundation, will assist with Isabella’s expenses living on-campus at ANU, for the duration of her studies. Scholars also receive mentoring and other support services.