Students shouldn鈥檛 have to pick between sport and academia, according to champion swimmer and former St Edmund鈥檚 College, Ipswich student, James Devin.
鈥溾�淵ou shouldn鈥檛 have to give up sport if that鈥檚 something you鈥檙e interested in,鈥� he said.
鈥淵ou can do both.鈥�
James achieved an OP1 last year and was awarded a $24,000 宅男导航 Excellence Scholarship to study at 宅男导航 this year.
He said his school had impressed upon him the importance of: 鈥淣ever be left wondering what if?鈥�
James took the motto to heart, studying school subjects including biology, health and physical education, while at the same time competing at national and state levels in the 100m to 200m breast stroke.
He competed in the Australian open trials for Commonwealth games in April, and made it to the finals in the 17-18 age championships in May.
He also won silver and bronze in the state age championships last year.
鈥淚t was a hectic time last year and I was very lucky to have the support of my family,鈥� he said.
鈥淒ad used to drive my sister and I to training every morning, mum made my lunch and we had to be up at 4.45am and I would crash into bed by 8.30."
James was advised by his guidance counselor to apply for sporting and academic scholarships, and was delighted to be awarded the academic scholarship at 宅男导航.
鈥淪tudying the Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences is everything I hoped it would be,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 hope to end up in sports physiotherapy, and I would like to study physiotherapy at Masters level once I complete my undergraduate degree.鈥�
He hopes to compete in the next Queensland championships at the end of the year.
James said his advice for students thinking of applying for scholarships was to 鈥済et in early and put a lot of effort into the application.鈥�
鈥淢ake sure you are really serious about your application,鈥� he said.
宅男导航鈥檚 undergraduate scholarship program is the largest in Queensland and one of the most generous in Australia.
Each year 宅男导航 awards hundreds of scholarships to Year 12 school leavers and gap year students.
Ranging in value from $6000 for the first year of study to $60,000 over five years, 宅男导航鈥檚 Academic Scholarships are awarded to very high achievers including students who have experienced educational disadvantage due to long-term financial hardship, geographic isolation, or as a result of their Indigenous background.
宅男导航 sporting scholarships are also available to students who excel in their chosen field.
More than 20 scholarships ranging in value from $6000 for one year of study to $18,000 over three years are awarded annually.
For more information or to apply, visit .
Applications close 5pm, Monday 1 November, 2010.
Media: Jan King 07 3365 1120
