2016 Scholarship Recipients

We are delighted to announce the inaugural recipients of the Katrina Dawson Foundation Scholarships at The Women’s College within The University of Sydney: Kate Field, Angie Lu and Catherine Priestley.

These inspiring young women have excellent academic results, and have demonstrated engagement and leadership in their communities. The scholarship funding will offer them meaningful assistance while pursuing their studies at the University of Sydney.

Kate Field comes from the Upper Hunter Valley, where she was Dux of her year for the last three years of high school. She is passionate about many issues in her community—Kate was a National Ambassador for OzGreen and was named Lions Youth of the Year in 2014 and 2015—being a state finalist in both years. She was also chairperson of her school’s Student Representative Council. Kate says she is embarking on a Bachelor of Architecture & Environment this year to “…combine my passion for the environment with my personal ambition to reinvent urban design in Australia, developing more sustainable and eco-friendly cityscapes.”

Kate believes the scholarship will change her experience of tertiary study and improve her future options: “The Katrina Dawson Foundation inspires me to grasp all the opportunities available at The Women's College and at the University of Sydney. The scholarship has revolutionised my life as a woman and future leader—I am able to spend every day surrounded by likeminded women who support each other's ambitions and dreams. In this environment I hope to grow into a far more dynamic individual than if I had not gained the Katrina Dawson Foundation Scholarship.”

Angie Lu was educated in Canberra, where she excelled in a combination of extension English and Mathematics. She “…loves the logic of maths and the stories of English, and aspires to be a world-class educator”. Her choice of a combined Arts & Science degree at the University of Sydney will enable her to be well-placed to pursue this ambition. At high school, Angie had many interests and leadership roles, including College Captain, School Magazine Editor and Captain of the Chamber Ensemble, in which she played violin.

Angie is very excited to be at Women’s College and says, "the Katrina Dawson Scholarship has allowed me to pursue my aspirations alongside an inspirational community of outstanding, independent and ambitious women; I couldn't be more grateful to the Foundation and the College for this incredible opportunity."

And for 2016, we are pleased to announce a third scholarship recipient, who will be supported by the combined Katrina Dawson Foundation Macquarie Group Scholarship: Catherine Priestley. Catherine grew up in Gilgandra and is currently in her second year of a combined Engineering & Arts degree. Catherine has thrived academically since starting at University, achieving a Distinction average in her first year. While at high school she founded a youth forum that explored issues affecting rural youth, and since being at University she has continued to be engaged in community issues, contributing regularly to The Spectator, as well as helping establish a student newspaper, ‘Mon Droit’.

Catherine comments that “…the opportunity to be involved with the Katrina Dawson Foundation and Macquarie Group is unique and exciting; a chance to pursue my great interest in economics, being both challenged and supported in the process. Living at College, amongst women who encourage me in my studies, will be cherished—another year of fascinating discussion and debate over dinner awaits!”

The Katrina Dawson Foundation is thrilled to be able to support Kate, Angie and Catherine in their ambitions. They are already making their mark and we hope that we can help them achieve all of their potential at this time in their lives, and more. We know that Katrina would be proud to be supporting three such inspiring young women.