Prestigious scholarship for Jerilderie student

The scholarship is just one of 40 awarded this year and is granted to exceptional students from rural and regional communities across Australia. It will provide support for Ms Di Lullo’s college expenses, encompassing accommodation, meals and academic assistance.

“Nicola Di Lullo is a worthy recipient of the prestigious scholarship, and we look forward to her making a substantial contribution to the academic, sporting, artistic and cultural life of our college in years to come,” St Andrew’s College principal Dr Daniel Tyler said.

“St Andrew’s recognises the unique challenges faced by many rural and regional students in accessing higher education, and our scholarships are strategically designed to ease these challenges and provide much-needed financial support.

“These scholarships open doors to education for exceptional students from various backgrounds and enrich our college community with their unique perspectives and talents.”

St Andrew’s College has been a residential college within the University of Sydney since 1867 and is today home to more than 380 male and female undergraduates, postgraduates and resident fellows.

Ms Di Lullo expressed her gratitude saying: "Being a recipient of this scholarship brings me immense excitement and relief as there is no longer an overarching stress placed on my parents to find money that isn’t really available to our family.

“This scholarship will aid me in accomplishing my dreams of starting a new life to get the education I’ve always dreamed of.”

Reflecting on her journey and future aspirations, Ms Di Lullo added: “My long-term goal is to delve into the world of scientific research to discover causes, prevention and treatment for diseases in the veterinary or human populations. This scholarship enables me to deepen my understanding and education at a university level and explore opportunities I never knew existed.

"I applied to St Andrew’s because it has all the elements that remind me of home, including the encouraged persistence to help out in various ways, the diversity of knowledge and background among the residents, and the sense of community with people who share and challenge my aspirations.

"My advice to fellow teenagers would be that you never truly know the outcome and to just try anyway. Many teenagers going through HSC are constantly comparing with peers, with the notion of ‘I’d never get it anyway’. This mindset of self-doubt leads to missed opportunities. Take the chance; you never know what might happen," she said.