Indigenous students excel
Monday 1 October 2007
Two of Trinity's first resident Indigenous scholars, Sana Nakata, LLB, BA (Hons), and Andreas Vorst-Hopkins, BA (Hons), each graduated with First Class Honours earlier this year.
Sana, a Torres Strait Islander, first came into residence at Trinity in 2001 to study Arts/Law at the University of Melbourne. After completing her Law degree in 2005 she spent some time in the US as an intern for an African-American senator. Having now completed her Arts Honours in Politics, Sana intends to start her PhD, also in Political Science, next year.
Andreas, an Indigenous Australian from Darwin, enrolled at the University of Melbourne in 2003, also as a Trinity resident. His Honours thesis addressed the issues of racism and Islamism in France and Germany, and next year he intends to study graduate law at this University.
While at Trinity, both Sana and Andreas held Oodgeroo scholarships, endowed by alumnus Dr Roger Riordan, AM, and his wife Pat.
Roger and Pat were among those who attended a small reception at the College on October 1 to congratulate Sana and Andreas on their outstanding academic achievements. Also present were the Professor of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne, Professor Marcia Langton, and current and former Trinity staff and students who had been part of Sana's and Andreas' success at University.
Celebrating the success of Indigenous Honours graduates, Andreas Vorst-Hopkins and Sana Nakata (2nd and 3rd from left), are L to R: the Warden Associate Professor Andrew McGowan, Oodgeroo Scholarship benefactors Dr Roger Riordan and Mrs Pat Riordan, and Indigenous Programs Officer, Dr Jon Ritchie.