Student leader receives Associate Vice-Chancellor's Sydney Champion Scholarship
Grace Ponmudi has been awarded the Associate Vice-Chancellor’s Sydney Champion Scholarship.
This scholarship recognises a student at CDU Sydney Campus who contributes to Sydney campus engagement and their local community.
Grace is a student leader and has led various student initiatives. Her contributions include starting the first IT Student Group, assisting in the launch of Sydeny’s first IT CodeFair, organising an after-semester party, and is a contributor to campus culture.
Beyond the campus, she has also been in active member of the Australian Information Security Association, enabling her to explore different branches of Information Security.
Associate Vice-Chancellor Sydney campus Dr. Sascha Jenkins said her active participation in the community has been noticed.
“Her active engagement on campus, as well as her volunteering for Sydney industry and community events, was a key reason she received this award,” Dr. Sascha Jenkins said.
Grace said she often stepped away from paid work to volunteer or attend IT conferences and industry meetings.
“This scholarship validates those choices and encourages me to continue being a leader and advocate for my peers while striving for academic excellence," Grace said.
"As an international student living in Sydney, the high cost of living often makes it challenging to balance university studies, part-time work, and community involvement,”
“Receiving this scholarship is a significant milestone for me; it provides the financial peace of mind to focus more deeply on my studies.”
Grace attributed the scholarship to the opportunities provided at the Sydney campus. She also acknowledged the staff that supported her initiatives and were enthusiastic about her ideas.
“My journey in volunteering started with the Value Program at the CDU Career Centre,” she said.
“Career Consultant Karen Cavanaugh introduced me to the program and showed me how to get started with volunteering here,”
This semester Grace is also serving as a Senior Buddy, where she mentors new students as they transition to university life.
“My advice to fellow students is to take care of themselves, make the most of your time at CDU, and don’t just settle for what is comfortable - broaden your horizons!"