Jessia Semken, who grew up in Moss Vale, won the 2017 University of Wollongong (UOW) Casey-Lee Hull Memorial Scholarship. 

The scholarship is a memorial for Casey-Lee Hull, who was one of the first students to participate in the In2Uni’s University Preparation Program (UPP).

Casey-Lee, from Oak Flats, was killed in a car accident in 2014 before finishing the program and her HSC. 

Miss Semken was awarded the scholarship for attaining the highest raw ATAR score for 2016 and completing the UPP. 

The 19-year-old scored a 93.5 ATAR. 

“I wasn’t expecting to receive the scholarship at all so I’m feeling very excited and honoured,” she said. 

Miss Semken is in her first session at UOW and is completing a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours, Dean’s Scholar).

The UPP initiative, now in its fourth year, is for Year 12 students at high schools in the Illawarra and South East regions who are completing subjects leading to an ATAR and want additional support to get into their chosen course at university.

“I found the UPP incredibly helpful, not just with my academic studies but also keeping a life balance in Year 12,” Miss Semken said. 

The program also helped Miss Semken decide what course to study.

“I knew I wanted to study science and the UPP helped me decide that I wanted to pursue chemistry,” she said. 

Miss Semken said she wanted a career in pharmaceutical research after she completed her degree. 

The former Chevalier student encouraged other Highlands students to join the program.