They were among Queensland’s top students in Year 12 last year and now three Gympie teenagers have been rewarded for their efforts by the University of the Sunshine Coast.

James Nash State High School 2017 seniors Patrick Bailey and Hamish Rookyard, and former Gympie State High School vice-captain Ann Cleary, have each been awarded a USC Vice-Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship, worth up to $12,000.

OP1 student Patrick, who excelled at physics and physical education in Year 12, has started a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at USC’s Sunshine Coast campus.

“I chose USC because I like how the Education degree is structured so that by first semester I am placed in a classroom working with school children,” Patrick said.

“Gaining practical experience early in my degree will give me a great insight to what is required by the profession,” said the 17-year-old who is following in the footsteps of his mother Helen Bailey, a teacher-librarian at Gympie East State School.

A career working with innovative technologies in the automotive or aeronautical industry is on the cards for Hamish, who has started a Mechanical Engineering (Honours) degree at USC after gaining an OP2.

“I’ve always liked maths, and I like the fact that engineering is based largely on problem solving,” said Hamish, 17, who received the Year 12 Math B subject award at James Nash State High School.

“This scholarship offers extra security while I completed my degree by taking away the financial stress involved with attending university.”

High achieving Gympie State High School graduate Ann Cleary has started a combined degree in Secondary Education and Recreation and Outdoor Environmental Studies at USC.

The OP2 student from Kandanga, who received her school’s Award for Excellence in science and maths in Year 12, plans to become a high school physical education teacher when she graduates.

— Clare McKay