NSW High achieving students off to US colleges

NSW students offered places at US colleges and universities were recognised at an event on 26 July.

The event hosted by the US Consulate-General, and a joint initiative of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the US Consulate-General, was attended by students, their families and schools and representatives of the school sectors.

The students will start their US studies this September.

Chair of the NESA Board Tom Alegounarias said “The strong relationship between NESA and the US Consulate-General to promote the NSW HSC has seen more students from more schools aspire to overseas study.

“The HSC is a world standard credential, and the community can have real confidence that since the first HSC over fifty years ago we have made reforms and changes to ensure its remains relevant and best practice”

Donald Mayard from the United States Consulate in Sydney said “There are really limitless possibilities for Australians looking to study in the U.S. with more than 4000 universities and colleges right across the country. And I know the colleges just love the warmth and energy Australians bring to college life.”

NESA CEO David de Carvalho said “Whenever US colleges visit NSW to meet with students and visit schools they are always impressed with what they see.

“The internationally regarded HSC is well understood by leading US tertiary institutions and our students can apply knowing that their credential has such a great reputation.

“I wish all of these students the very best, and encourage future HSC students interesting in studying overseas to attend one of the regular information sessions held by visiting US colleges or make contact with EducationUSA at the US Consulate-General.

“Students should also speak to their school Careers Advisers about the application process.

“In such a sporting culture as Australia, every year a number of students are also offered athletics scholarships.”

There are about 5000 Australians studying in the US at present.

NSW students attending US universities this year are:

• Georgia Bradley graduated from Sydney Girls and will be attending Harvard
• Amanda Calipo graduated from Queenwood School for Girls and will be attending University of Chicago
• Michelle Chai graduated from Pymble Ladies College and will be attending University of Pennsylvania
• Madi Davis graduated from Wenona and will be attending Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia, will be doing a double degree in electrical engineering and biomedical engineering.
• Sophie De Angelis who graduated from Loreto Kirribilli and will be attending Harvard University
• Simon Giordano who graduated from Newington and will be attending Brown University
• Inde Halligan who graduated from Meriden and will be attending Harvard and will be playing on the water-polo team
• Rebecca James graduated from MLC Burwood and will be attending Boston University, representing them in field hockey
• Nicole Kagan who graduated from Sydney Girls High School and will be attending Harvard University
• Sreya Parakala who graduated from MLC Burwood and will be attending Northwestern University to undertake a bio-medical engineering degree + co-op program
• Jasper Scholl graduated from Sydney Grammar School will be attending Harvard University
• Maisie Stevens graduated from Kincoppal Rose Bay will be attending UC Berkeley in California and will represent UCB on the track and field team
• Zoe Tanti who graduated from Meriden and will be attending Southern Utah University of Southern Utah playing and will play tennis for the renowned SUU Thunderbirds.
• Will Todd graduated from Trinity Grammar will be attending Columbia University in NYC and will represent Columbia on the football/soccer team
• Kiara Vallins-Koertge graduated from Redlands and will be attending Parsons School of Design – heading to the Paris campus for two years then finishing her last two years at the NYC campus, studying fashion design
• Cindy Yin who graduated from Pymble Ladies College and will be attending Georgetown University
• Annie Zu who graduated from Pymble Ladies College and will be attending Yale