Hornsby Connection: Bridging Eight Cohorts of Tuckwell Scholars
Story by Kate Chipman (2022 Tuckwell Scholar)
On Friday of Week Five, a group of penultimate- and final-year scholars attended the ‘Senior Scholars Symposium’. We spent the day on Mount Stromlo, hearing from a variety of speakers. The beautiful bushland surroundings provided the perfect setting for quiet reflection and insightful conversations. Our first task of the day was to sort through a set of 78 different values cards, identifying our top ten (a seemingly impossible challenge). Sita Sergeant (founder of ‘She Shapes History’) and Peta Swarbrick (Women For Election) then shared their stories, exploring the importance of living by your values.
After plenty of delicious food and a tour of the observatory, we settled in for the afternoon session. As we all grapple with the dreaded question—What comes next after uni?—the careers panel served as an important reminder to stay open to any opportunities that arise. It was fantastic to learn from Anna Fieldhouse (Department of Social Services Director), Ryan Winn (CEO of Science and Technology Australia), and Abi Rajkumar (Tuckwell Alum and Advisor to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus). We wrapped up the event with a talk from Professor Brian Schmidt, who reflected on what good leadership looks like.
Meeting Abi after the panel was a personal—serendipitous—highlight! We both went to the same high school, Hornsby Girls, and I have always admired Abi from afar. She came to our school’s annual Speech Day in 2019 and delivered a speech that has stayed with me to this day. I was sitting in the orchestra (as a Year Ten student) when Abi talked about the transformative power of education and how her time at both school and at ANU empowered her to make the world a better place. It was ultimately Abi’s experience with the Tuckwell program that led our school principal to suggest that I apply for the scholarship. Without her, I wouldn’t be here!
Could you, or someone you know be part of the next cohort of Tuckwell Scholars?
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Applications for 2026 Tuckwell Scholarships close April 14
