IGNITED winner - Rebecca Kendall

Engineering student Rebecca Kendall likes the idea of one day being able to drive down the road and point out things she is responsible for building.
Based at the Waurn Ponds Campus, the recent IGNITED scholarship winner (Initiative for a Girls’ Network in Information Technology & Engineering @ Deakin) is currently studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Engineering Scholars Program).

Rebecca was awarded the IGNITED scholarship after achieving an ENTER of 88.05 in her final year at Bellarine Secondary College in Drysdale.  She receives a $10,000 scholarship and academic mentoring.

At a Deakin Open Day, Rebecca found out civil engineering was going to be offered from 2009. She deferred for a year, working full time, until civil became available as a specialism.

As well as being a local option, Rebecca was also attracted to Deakin for its engineering reputation. “People had told me that Deakin was well known for and had a good reputation for their engineering courses.”

“I liked that the first year of engineering is broad and you get to do all sorts of engineering,” says Rebecca who is leaning towards specialising in either civil or mechanical. “With civil engineering I like the solution focus. I would like to be able to drive down the road and say ‘I built that’, to have the opportunity to see what I have made in action. I have always been brought up around cars and gadgets and have an interest in the mechanical side of things as well.”

Enjoying and excelling in maths led Rebecca to her current studies. “I did specialist maths and loved it. I enjoyed the challenge of maths.” Rebecca says it is important to do what you enjoy and give things a go. “I didn’t do physics in Year 11 and 12 and regretted not doing it. If you want to do it go for it, it doesn’t matter that that it might be male dominated.”

As part of the Engineering Scholars Program, Rebecca will be given opportunities to work with Deakin’s leading researchers and industry partners. She says she is looking forward to undertaking work experience in a civil engineering company, to get out there and see what it’s like in practice.