IGNITED winner - Rachael Rollinson

Rachael Rollinson already knew her way around the Waurn Ponds Campus before classes began. Having attended local Christian College, she was familiar with Deakin due to the school’s involvement with the university. Now Rachael is on campus studying a Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce.

This recent IGNITED scholarship winner (Initiative for a Girls’ Network in Information Technology & Engineering @ Deakin) received an ENTER of 90.95. She receives a $10,000 scholarship and academic mentoring.

Rachael says part of the reason she chose to study at Deakin was location, being nearby meant she didn’t have to move away from home. She says knowing her way around the Campus was also an advantage. “My school had a lot to do with Deakin so it was familiar to start with. In Year 10 I participated in Deakin’s Science and Engineering Challenge. We did well in The Challenge; we came second in the state and made it to the national level. Our school cross country circuit included the Campus as well, so I’m used to running around it.”

In high school Rachael enjoyed maths and science and found those subjects “clicked” with her. At a careers expo, Rachael discussed the subjects she was studying at school and was advised she should consider engineering. As a result, she did some work experience which gave her a taste for engineering. During school holidays in Year 11, Rachael did a week’s work experience with Worley Parsons. “During work experience I learnt what engineering was and thought maybe engineering was not just for guys. Until then I had wanted to be a chef and at one point a teacher, but after work experience I knew it was engineering.”

“From talking to people in the industry, I was advised to take commerce as well as it would put me in good stead for a management position later on. I liked the fact that I could do both engineering and commerce at the Waurn Ponds Campus, I wanted to do both.”