Women students win Victorian scholarships

Two RMIT University students have been awarded scholarships from Graduate Women Victoria.

Both Aletha Penrith and Naomi Anderson won the highest dollar value scholarship in their respective categories.

They were selected by the judges on the basis of their academic achievement and potential to succeed.

Ms Penrith, who is studying a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours), was awarded the ED Daniel Scholarship worth $4,000 to assist her in her fourth year of undergraduate studies in Social Science.

Ms Anderson, a postgraduate student studying the Juris Doctor program in the Graduate School of Business and Law, won the Philippa McCall Scholarship, also valued at $4,000.

Ms Anderson has been unable to work for the past two years as a result of being both parent and carer to a young person with a disability.

Being awarded this scholarship means that she will be able to afford to finish her program.

"I was so excited and relieved when I found out that I had won," Ms Anderson said. "The news could not have come at a better time."

Ms Anderson now hopes to be admitted to practise law and to look for a way in which she can use her legal skills to defend the rights of vulnerable people and groups in the community

Graduate Women Victoria works to provide opportunities to help disadvantaged students excel in their academic endeavors.

It offers benefactor-assisted scholarships and bursaries to female students enrolled in Victorian universities every year.

"It's great to know that there is an organisation that recognises the value in supporting people like me through study, improving our chances of being able to contribute to the community," Ms Anderson said.

Both Ms Penrith and Ms Anderson attended a presentation ceremony at Cabrini Hospital recently where they gave speeches and were given their certificates.

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