Numbers high at Indigenous Winter School

This year's intake of Indigenous high school students to Nura Gili's 2008 Winter School Program reached 135 - the largest intake to date for the residential pre-University program that assists Indigenous students in Years 10, 11 and 12 in preparing for tertiary study.

Nura Gili's Director, Associate Professor Sue Green, warmly congratulated the graduates at a celebration dinner in Coogee this week.

"We welcome the future leaders of our country who hold the hopes and dreams of the Indigenous people. Tonight we celebrate for the future is truly bright," she said.

The high school students had travelled from all over Australia to attend the Winter School.

Global financial firm UBS has invested $1 million over four years to support the Winter School which will allow it to accept 150 students annually over the next three years.

"The UBS sponsorship has translated into some wonderful opportunities for our Winter School participants. UNSW and UBS offer great educational support for Indigenous students," says Nura Gili's Deputy Director, Jilda Simpson.

Winter School students experience UNSW life and nominate one of the following areas to explore during their week at the University; Social Work, Education, Medicine, Engineering, Law, Architecture and Design, Commerce and Economics, Visual Arts and Performing Arts.

Sisters Kayla and Melissa Thorne were both part of the 2008 Winter School. Melissa is currently studying Education at UNSW and supervises the Winter School residencies each year. Her younger sister, Kayla is a student at Matraville Sports High and attended the Winter School for the first time this year.

"This has been an amazing experience for me, I've met so many new people and really understand how the University works. I'd like to study teaching like my sister," says Kayla.

Media Contact: Fran Strachan | 9385 8732 | fran.strachan@unsw.edu.au