Page 6 - Luce 2017

M ay Dunn Scholarships

A truly remarkable gift: The May Dunn Scholarships

Shani Please tell us about your post-JCH the skills developed during my term as
Brampton activities. Student Club President.

Please tell us After leaving JCH in November 2016, I Reflecting on your time at JCH, have
what you were worked as a chef in Tasmania, pursuing you any advice for students entering
studying at my passion for ethical, locally produced JCH for the first time?
the University food. I was also employed by Matthew
of Melbourne Evans (the Gourmet Farmer) at Fat Pig My advice for those entering JCH for the
and how/why Farm, which was truly a dream come first time is three-fold:
you originally true – and a marvellous experience. Pursue friendships outside of College.
came to be My closest friends remain those
resident at JCH. How did being in This funded three months of gallivanting developed at College. However, it is
College influence you/your experience around Europe. Six weeks were spent important to have friends who live in a
of University? WWOOFing* alongside my partner-in- different context and don’t know every
crime Tom Stegink (yes, Tom and I are single other person you live with.
I attended the University from 2014 one of those ‘college couples’). We lived Be grateful. You are privileged to be
– 2016, studying a Bachelor of Arts and worked on organic farms in France, living and studying at such an institution
and majoring in Anthropology and Italy and Corsica. with its vibrant community, based in the
Sociology. After a taste of collegiate marvellous surrounds that is Parkville.
life at St Catherine’s College, Oxford In early September I began working Don’t ever forget that.
(2012), I knew that I wanted to continue for Teach for Australia, a not-for-profit Get involved. Especially in your first
my studies in a collegiate setting. After organisation that is part of a global year. Put your fears of inadequacy /
living in a college of 500, I was drawn movement dedicated to breaking the making a fool of yourself etc. behind
to the small-scale of JCH. cycle of disadvantage through teaching you and embrace all aspects of college
and leadership in education. I am life. The skills I developed through being
The strong community at JCH was a thoroughly enjoying my work as TFA’s Food and Social Services representative
highlight, particularly in my first year. School Engagement and Partnerships (first year), as General Representative
The busy social/sporting/arts/committee officer, finding it both stimulating and (second year) and as Student Club
calendar at College provided a welcome inspiring. President (third year) have been
relief from studies and an opportunity to invaluable since completing my degree.
practise other skills. However, I am glad And, it’s a reminder for any Arts student
that I persisted with forging friendships that it is possible to land a full-time job *Founded in the UK in 1971,
outside of College. I learned early (at a global NGO to boot) which relates WWOOFing (‘World Wide
on that it was integral to maintain a directly to your undergraduate majors. In Opportunities on Organic Farms’) now
perspective ‘outside of the bubble’. my role I have drawn heavily upon my involves more than 6,000 hosts in 88
Sociology/Anthropology studies and also countries.
Ultimately, I see my university
experience inextricably intertwined Shani Brampton: blending a passion for education and food
with Janet Clarke Hall.

What did receiving the May Dunn
Scholarship mean for you?

I am deeply grateful for the May
Dunn Scholarship (2015 and 2016). It
significantly eased the financial burden
of college life and this in turn meant that
I was able to throw myself 110% into
college activities and to better focus
on my studies. I continued to work
(in hospitality) throughout my degree
and this, in combination with Youth
Allowance (Centrelink) and the May
Dunn Scholarship, paid my way through
College. The reduced financial stress
would have no doubt contributed to a
high distinction average in my Bachelor
of Arts.

6 LUCE Number 16 2017