GOOD NEWS: Sarah Stafford from Segenhoe has triple the reasons to smile last month after she won the Upper Hunter showgirl competition, a scholarship and two internships to study special education.
It’s little wonder the world is falling at the feet of this Segenhoe student teacher.
Sarah Stafford has not only come home with the crown of Upper Hunter showgirl recently, but won a rural scholarship and two internships at the University of Newcastle.
But all this is part of a grander plan for the fourth generation dairy farmer’s daughter – to pursue her dream of becoming a special education teacher.
“I was looking on the university website at scholarships and decided to apply for the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) scholarship earlier this year.
“I was amazed I actually won it, as there were over 700 applicants,” Ms Stafford said.
The scholarship is for rural students enrolled in a TAFE or university course wanting to return to the rural community to pursue their career.
For this 4th year education student, the scholarship was a perfect fit.
“I actually want to focus on special education and teach children with disabilities and learning difficulties.” Ms Stafford said.
“And I definitely want to live and work in the Hunter.”
The RAS scholarship will assist Ms Stafford with her education expenses while two internships from the University of Newcastle will help her to focus on special education.
“I am really passionate about teaching, it is what I have always wanted to do,” she said.
As a flow on from her recent RAS scholarship, she entered the Upper Hunter Showgirl competition last month. And yes, she won that too.
Ms Stafford said she was looking forward to fulfilling her showgirl commitments, improving her public speaking skills and representing the Upper Hunter in the zone showgirl competition early next year.