Playing computer games pays off for Ringwood East student

Playing computer games from a young age has paid off for Ringwood East resident Zoe Hill.

Zoe has received a place in the Science and Technology Dean's Scholars Program at Deakin University in recognition of her outstanding academic achievement.

She achieved an ENTER of 96.65 in her final year at Tintern Girls Grammar and gained admission to the Bachelor of Information Technology (Games Development and Design) degree at Deakin University. As a Dean's Scholar she will receive academic mentoring, $5,000 annually and the opportunity to include an industry-based learning placement as part of her degree

The hard work put in while studying for the International Baccalaureate at Tintern Girls Grammar paid off, with Zoe now studying an area she is passionate about.

"I have loved games my entire life, especially the visual artwork and the narrative," she said.

In the future Zoe plans to be involved in the industry-based learning program, to get hands on experience and make contacts. She would like to focus on concept design for either a games or animation company.

"I want to focus on the visual side, how the world and characters look. The more realistic you can make the world, the better the experience," she said.

"The Dean's Scholars Program was set up to attract high-achieving students to science and technology courses at Deakin University," said Associate Dineli Mather, Associate Dean (Development) of Deakin University's Faculty of Science and Technology.

"We are delighted to welcome such gifted young students to the Faculty. We provide students in the program the support and guidance they need to reach their full potential.

"Dean's Scholars get assigned an academic mentor for the duration of their studies to help them with their course and their career development. We also run a professional development program for our high achievers and many of these students go onto our industry-based learning program where they get paid while they get graduate level work experience in their discipline."