The Academic Excellence Scholarships Recognising Outstanding Performance in Undergraduate Studies were established to reward hard work, persistence and dedication to academic excellence. In this ‘Meet the Scholar’ series we will introduce you to those undergraduate students who are the 2020 recipients of this generous scholarship. Are you ready to be inspired?
What program are you studying?
What year of study are you in?

What did you feel when you heard you were the recipient of the Academic Excellence Scholarships Recognising Outstanding Performance in Undergraduate Studies?
I was actually overseas at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom on a medical elective at the time so it was an incredible surprise when I received an email from the scholarship office informing me of this award. I was incredibly excited and I immediately called my parents to share in the excitement!
What do you think are the personal qualities that have contributed to your academic achievements?
How do you motivate yourself towards your studies?
Who are your role models?
What are your goals for the future?
What are three things you enjoy most about studying at the University of Newcastle?
What tips do you have for other students when it comes to excelling in their studies?
The first and most important thing is to establish a good support network of friends who study the same degree as you. This is especially important in your first year where it is easy to get lost in a new environment. Then, focus on constantly improving yourself no matter where you start from: 1) Get organised and schedule time to study into your daily routine (along with exercise + time for friends and family!); 2) Get advice from senior students who have done well in the course on how to approach the semester or a particular subject (what worked for them and what didn’t?); 3) Ask yourself why you’re learning a certain unit/subject and how it contributes to your career goals (this helped me in terms of motivation); 4) Enjoy university (including travelling overseas if you can)!