03 June 2008

Brothers Anthony and Michael Curry have set up a proud family tradition at UNSW, with both boys now having won prestigious scholarships to study Engineering at the University of New South Wales.

Anthony, 18, from the northern NSW town of Tyagarah, was awarded a Faculty of Engineering Rural Scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering at UNSW at the 2008 Scholarhips Presentation. He will be the second Engineer in the family: older brother Michael graduated from UNSW with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Engineering Science in 2006.

Michael won the Stan Hall Rural Scholarship, when he was at UNSW.

“Mike got a scholarship so I thought ‘I’ll get one too’,” said Anthony, who like his brother attended Mullumbimby High School.

“I’ve always been building things and pulling stuff apart so Mechanical Engineering appealed to me.”

Anthony was awarded the $9,000, four-year scholarship at the official reception held for recipients at UNSW. The Faculty of Engineering awards almost 200 scholarships to students each year, including around 120 from industry partners.

“These are the premier awards for the Faculty,” Dean of Engineering Professor Graham Davies said.

“Each year our Faculty of Engineering offers a wide range of scholarships to future students. These scholarships recognise, on one hand, high academic achievement and, on the other, provide support to students whose socio-economic, cultural, geographic or personal circumstances may adversely affect their ability to succeed at University.

“Engineering is going to have a fantastic part to play in all the big problems the world faces and we want more young people coming into this field.”

Giving a student perspective on scholarships on the evening was Elisse Zarimis, the 2004 Al Willis-UNSW Endowment Scholar and two-times winner of a UNSW Engineering Dean’s Award. “I always knew I wanted to go to UNSW and when I heard I had the scholarship I knew I could afford it and do what I wanted to do,” Elisse told the gathered students.

“Having a scholarship behind you means that you don’t have to worry quite so much about getting your life set up and can focus on your studies. Not having to work meant that I could put more time into the things that I want to do.

“I felt that having a scholarship has provided me with better marks.”

(l to r) UNSW Engineering scholarship holders Michael and Anthony Curry with their parents, Margaret and Bob, at the presentation night.

View Photographs from the 2008 Faculty of Engineering Scholarships Presentation.