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Chelsea, 15, starts double degree at USC
Starting university at the tender age of 15 does not seem to daunt Chelsea Wallis of Marcus Beach in the slightest.
The St Andrews Anglican College graduate is taking it all in her stride, and is enjoying this week’s Orientation activities at the University of the Sunshine Coast before launching into a combined Arts and Business degree next Monday.
“I’m probably just as nervous and excited as any other new uni student would be,” she said. “But I also feel I’m just as well prepared as the other students here and I’ll just do my best.”
For Chelsea – who has a genius IQ score of 165, who jumped two year levels while at school, and whose ambitions include being a Rhodes Scholar and specialising in international relations or international business – her tertiary study experience has already started on a high note.
On Monday (15 February), she was among 55 first-year students to be honoured at USC’s inaugural Undergraduate Scholarships Presentation Ceremony.
Chelsea received one of five Heller Merit Scholarships, valued at $6,000 each, which are presented annually for high academic achievement, leadership skills, and financial need.
“I want to express my immense gratitude to the donors and the University,” she said. “This scholarship will allow me to extend myself and give me opportunities that I would not otherwise have had.
“I come from a single-parent family and have two younger sisters, so this financial assistance will be fantastic. It will lessen the burden of the HECS debt and the student costs at uni.”
Chelsea said she had particularly enjoyed meeting fellow students and academics during Orientation, and was keen to find out more about USC’s Global Opportunities exchange program, the Golden Key International Honour Society, and industry internships.
“I feel really lucky that I’ve got such a wonderful university and all these opportunities so close to home,” she said.
One of Chelsea’s classmates at the University will be her mother, Sam, who is continuing a Bachelor of Business degree this year.
Sam said she was particularly impressed by the personalised attention and support that Chelsea will receive at USC, including having an academic mentor.
The Undergraduate Scholarships Presentation Ceremony on Monday was attended by scholarship sponsors, high school principals, the students’ family members and University staff.
It featured the presentation of six annual Academic Excellence scholarships, valued at $12,000 each, comprising two Renouf Family Scholarships, two Tim Fairfax Regional Scholarships, and two USC Chancellor’s Scholarships.
The Renouf Family Scholarships went to Kristi Browne of Suncoast Christian College and Taylor Peters of Pacific Lutheran College, while Stephanie McLeay of Urangan State High School at Hervey Bay and Christine Pauli of Clifton State High School on the Darling Downs received the Tim Fairfax Regional Scholarships.
The Chancellor’s Scholarships went to Saira Manns of Beerwah State High School and Tamsyn Burness of St Marks Anglican College in Western Australia.
— Terry Walsh