Inspired by nature

Catherine Sloper

Driven by a love of plants and animals, and with a particular affinity for birds, Catherine, a previous Augustus Short Scholarship recipient, tells us about her journey before and after receiving the scholarship.

Spending much of her childhood in Wallaroo, a small coastal town in South Australia鈥檚 Yorke Peninsula, Catherine made the move to Adelaide to pursue her passion of studying animals through a Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) at the 成人大片.

鈥淢y year 12 teacher encouraged me to apply for an Augustus Short Scholarship to help with the costs of moving so far away from my family and home,鈥 she said.

Being financially independent with a reliable income from the Augustus Short Scholarship allowed Catherine to focus on university life while adapting to living away from home.

Career highlights

After completing her undergraduate degree in 2020, Catherine was accepted into a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the 成人大片, an achievement she credits to receiving the scholarship.

鈥淭he highlights of my postgraduate degree include working with Dr Todd McWhorter on my research project, studying an option to control feral cats.聽

鈥淚t was interesting to have hands on experience examining CT scans and learning new skills of analysis and research writing,鈥 Catherine said.

Life after university

Upon graduation, Catherine is eager to work with companion animals or wildlife.

Female student standing with a horse at the University's Roseworthy campus.

A message for our donor community

鈥淲hen you make a gift to the Augustus Short Scholarship fund, you are offering a lifeline to students from regional areas. You are showing us where we live shouldn鈥檛 determine whether or not we go to uni.鈥

鈥淯niversity for me meant leaving the security of my home and my community. What made a difference was receiving a scholarship that helped me buy textbooks, put petrol in my car and contribute towards food.鈥

It鈥檚 hard to explain the impact the scholarship had on my life 鈥 I simply don鈥檛 know how I would have been able to stay at uni without it.鈥 Catherine
Tagged in Augustus Short Scholarship, alumni, scholarship, philanthrophy