Western winners
by Vincent Ciccarello
Putting
in the hard yards has paid off for four UniSA students who last month
were made $3000 better off for their efforts.
Laura D’Aloia, Dorinda Memmler, Victor Krawczyk, and Paul Burger (pictured left to right) are the recipients of this year’s City of West Torrens Max and Bette Mendelson Foundation Scholarship, awarded to residents of the western suburbs council for outstanding academic achievement.
Eva Russo, executive assistant to the council’s CEO, said the scholarships were introduced in 1992 to help residents wanting to undertake tertiary studies.
"The scheme quickly proved an outstandingly successful initiative," Russo said.
It was expanded in 1994 through the generosity of Max and Bette Mendelson, who bequeathed their estate to the council "for the benefit of the wider community".
Dorinda Memmler, a Bachelor of Education (Junior Primary and Primary) student, said she felt "incredibly honoured and overwhelmed" to be awarded the scholarship.
"I intend to buy a laptop so that I have more computer access for my studies at home, at uni and when I am out on placement in the classroom," she said. "The money will also help with all those text books I have to buy to keep ahead of the next generation of students I will be teaching."
Fellow BEd (Junior Primary and Primary) student, Laura D’Aloia, is majoring in Italian studies. She intends to "put the money in the bank and put it towards my studies".
Bachelor of Social Science student Victor Krawczyk said he, too, was very
happy that the Max and Mendelson Foundation and the West Torrens Council
give this opportunity to undergraduate students. "I intend to use
the money to support my honours degree," he said.
It is the second Mendelson Scholarship for Paul Burger, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) student.
"I am encouraged to continue putting in the effort because the scholarship means the City of West Torrens recognises hard work," he said.
In addition to the cash award, the scholarship recipients’ names are recorded on an honour roll in the council’s civic centre. For information about next year’s scholarship, visit www.wtcc.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=801