Young achievers' time to shine

Awards

Rhodes Scholar and University of Adelaide graduate Rebecca Richards has been named the 2011 Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year for South Australia.

Rebecca was presented with her award by South Australian Premier the Hon. Mike Rann at the awards ceremony in March.

The 23-year-old Adnyamathanha woman has a passion for anthropological research. Last year she completed her Bachelor of Arts with Honours at the University of Adelaide, majoring in Anthropology, and also has undertaken three cadetships at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

Last December Rebecca made history by becoming Australia's first indigenous Rhodes Scholar see story here.

As well as being named Young Achiever of the Year, Rebecca also won the Office for Youth Aboriginal Achievement Award for 2011.

A total of 32 finalists vied for the various Young Achiever Awards, including other University of Adelaide students and graduates. Among the other winners on the night were:

Suzanne Mashtoub Abimosleh - RAA Driving Force Leadership Award

Suzanne, 23, is a PhD student at the University of Adelaide. She has a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) majoring in Physiology and Pharmacology, and First Class Honours in Physiology from the University.

Suzanne is researching the application of emu oil for the treatment of acute inflammatory bowel disease. She has made national and international presentations and her work has been published.

She organises events during National Science Week and is an executive committee member of the Young Australian Lebanese Association. She is Chairperson of the Young Druze Professionals of SA and is also on the Multicultural Education Advisory Committee.

Laura Brooks - University of Adelaide Faculty of Sciences Science and Technology Award

Dr Brooks, 28, has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours and a PhD in Engineering from the University of Adelaide and is a lecturer within the University's School of Mechanical Engineering.

She spent two years at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, California, as a Fulbright Scholar and 18 months as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Victoria University of Wellington.

Dr Brooks has been successful in attracting $5 million in research funding, and her numerous publications include underwater acoustics, active noise control, signal processing, geophysics and engineering education. She has presented her work at conferences in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Europe.

Grace Bowman - Worldwide Online Printing Sports Award

A horse-riding accident in 2002 resulted in Grace becoming a paraplegic but she worked extremely hard to get back into the saddle and pursue her equestrian goals.

Grace has won five consecutive Riding for the Disabled state dressage titles and two national titles. In 2008 she made history as the first South Australian Para-Equestrian to be selected to represent Australia at a Paralympic Games, finishing 7th in her event. Grace placed first at a Para-Equestrian event last year and attended the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.

She is ranked number one in Australia and number four in the world in her sport.

Grace, 20, is also studying for a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at the University of Adelaide.