MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 28 July, 2008
Top Marks for Lois Harris Scholarship Winner
Top marks and a passion for agriculture have earned Eyre Peninsula’s Jessica Crettenden the 2008 Advisory Board of Agriculture’s Lois Harris scholarship.
The 18-year-old’s tertiary entrance rank of 93.4 won her the $1000 scholarship, beating other first-year students vying for a position to study Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy Campus.
Jessica accredits her passion for agriculture to growing up on her family’s 2300 acre wheat, sheep and grazing business, 4 km north of Lock.
“I have always loved working on the farm . . . so I decided to work even harder at school to get the marks to study agriculture at Roseworthy,” Jessica said.
A student at Port Lincoln’s St Josephs Catholic College, Jessica says after applying for 15 other scholarships, the Lois Harris award was a real surprise.
“It was such a shock when I first heard I won the scholarship,” Jessica said.
“I worked hard to get a good TER but I didn’t expect to get almost 94, let alone the scholarship.”
Jessica says winning the scholarship has really helped to propel her career in agriculture.
“Money aside, the scholarship has helped to put me squarely in the agriculture industry circle,” she said.
“It’s amazing. . . I have already been approached by agriculture companies wanting me to work for them after I finish my studies.
“It’s also definitely given me the motivation to achieve well. To get the best results possible, because I ultimately want to make the most this opportunity.”
Advisory Board of Agriculture Chairman Mark Dennis says the scholarship was named in honour of the late Lois Harris, a representative of the board to reward top students for agriculture studies.
“It was established to encourage senior high school students to study agriculture, and ultimately keep young people in the industry,” Mr Dennis said.
“The scholarship is a fantastic starting point for young people to be involved in the industry and inspire them to continue learning.”
Having just finished her first semester, Jessica says she’s aiming to branch off into animal nutrition in the third year, as this is an area she wants to pursue a career in.
“I also hope to do AgriVenture, an overseas placement program after I finish my studies, which will see me working in the agriculture field for 6-12 months in another country,” Jessica said.
“After that I’d love to get a job back in Australia. I’ve been told there are about four jobs going for every graduate, so I hope that’s right!”
