Star Karratha student Samuel Carter recognised with prestigious Walkington Award

A star student who plans on taking his studies to the next level has won a prestigious award and received a significant contribution towards achieving his ambitions.

Now in its 38th year, the award named after Dr Al Walkington who was the foundation director of North Regional TAFE, gives the winner $5000 towards further study.

The prize recognises academic excellence, extra-curricular activities and community service, and supports a student to continue their tertiary studies.

The bright mind was recently awarded dux by the Karratha Senior High School for his outstanding academic achievements as well as the Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award.

Samuel Carter, who studied six ATAR subjects, will move to Canberra next year to begin his university career at the Australian National University.

Speaking to Pilbara News, Samuel , 17, said it was a privilege to be named the award recipient.

“It’s obviously going to go a long way towards helping get to university especially over in Canberra,” he said.

“So it was a special feeling on the day.

“I feel quite honoured to be acknowledged in this way for some of the community work that I have done and my academic achievements over the past two years. And that definitely is the driving force of that special feeling.”

Samuel said he would be moving to Canberra in February to study either politics or law and had always been interested in the fields.

“I’m probably going to study something along the lines of politics and law and I think the opportunities are definitely there in Canberra to bridge into political experiences, legal experiences, government work during and post uni,” he said.

“I also really liked it that ANU is so flexible with double degrees and it definitely all lined up the way I saw my future going.”

He said the money would help cover the costs of moving to Canberra.

“There’s the costs of getting to Canberra first of all, so I’m gonna drive across with a mate in February,” he said.

“So that’ll go a long way in helping to get there and then just additional setting up costs with university.”

“So whether that’s textbooks or first few weeks of accommodation, really just giving me a foundation to start on is what’s so valuable about that prize.”