Current Scholars

Michelle Calderara, Netball - Health & Exercise Science

Returning netball scholar Michelle Calderara is a representative of the Penrith Panthers in the NSW State League Division 1. Her team finished 5th in the Waratah Cup and won the 2007 Open Division State Championships in Sutherland, and was awarded Penrith Panthers 2006/2007 Team of the Year.

In 2008 Michelle was nominated ‘Player of the Tournament’ at the Ladies Division 1 State Titles. Michelle also gained selection in the Under 21’s State Team which finished Runners Up at the Nationals and Australian Indoor Netball U21’s Team.

Johnno Cotterill, Waterpolo - B Economics / Arts

Johnno Cotterill is a returning scholar and an outstanding UNSW athlete. In 2007 Johnno was selected as the youngest member of the senior Australian Team that competed at the World Championships in Melbourne in March.

2008 saw Johnno representing the Australian Team where they won a Gold Medal at the Good Luck Beijing Championship, and Bronze at the World Super League Finals. In recognition of Johnno’s achievements and he was awarded the prestigious UNSW Male Athlete of the Year 2008.

In the 2008/2009 season Johnno has been competing for Sant Andreu in the Spanish National League where the team qualified for Final 16 European Len Championship.

Luke Davison, Cycling - B Science

New Scholar has competed at an elite level of Cycling from a young age. In 2006, 2007 and 2008 Luke competed in State and National cycling competitions in individual and team events which led to his selection in the Australian Junior Track Team.

In 2008 Luke represented Australia in Junior World Cycling circuit winning 3 World Titles at the Junior World Championships in South Africa. 2008 also saw Luke awarded the Australian Junior Track Cyclist of the Year from Cycling Australia.

Ashleigh Dind, Touch Football - B Medicine

Ashleigh is a new scholar for 2009. Her team, Canterbury Bulldogs, were the winners of the 2008 Vawdon Cup Premier League division following an undefeated season.

As a player and vice captain of the representative regional squad, the Sydney Mets, Ashleigh placed 1st in the Women’s division of the National Touch League and 3rd in the U/20s division at the National Youth Championships. In 2008 Ashleigh was also selected in the NSW U20s team to compete in the State of Origin series.

Ashleigh has achieved success in University competition as a member of the UNSW University Games Women’s Touch squad winning Gold in 2007 and 2008 and gaining selection in the Green and Gold squad both years.

Corrie Eames, Waterpolo - B Arts

Corrie is a member of both the Australian Junior National and State Under 20 Water Polo team. In 2008 Corrie was named as a NSWIS Scholarship Holder and was also selected in the 2008 Green and Gold Australian All-Star team.

Corrie’s competition highlights from the 2008 season include 2nd place at the Australian U20’s State Championships, 1st place in the Australian National Water Polo League Competition, 1st place at the High Tatras Cup in Slovakia and 1st place in the NSW U20’s Col Smee.

Alexandra Feeney, Archery - B Science / Arts

Alexandra Feeney is a new addition to the Ben Lexcen scholarship program and already has an impressive sporting CV behind her. Alexandra has represented NSW in Archery since 2002. In 2006 Alexandra was named as a member of the Australian Junior Team and from 2006-2008 she has been a member of the Australian Open Team.

Her recent achievements include placing 1st in the Australian Grand Prix and 2nd in the Australian Team Trials in 2007. In 2008 Alexandra qualified 1st at the Olympic Nomination Team Trials and represented Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics placing 48th. Last year she also achieved her highest World Cup ranking yet, placing 19th at the World Cup Stage 1 in the Dominican Republic.

Sarah Grunberger, Waterpolo - B Economics

Sarah is a new Ben Lexcen scholar for 2009 who has already competed at a National and International stage in the sport of Water Polo.

In 2008 Sarah was selected in the Australian Youth Olympic squad, the Australian U17’s squad which won Gold and Silver in European Tournaments, the Australian School Girls Representative Squad and the NSW U20’s squad.
Sarah was also awarded a NSWIS Scholarship and the 2008 Pierre De Coubertin Award for Sportsmen.

In 2009 Sarah is continuing as a member of the UNSW Killer Whales National League Squad.

Alexandra Gronow, Waterpolo - B Law

Ali has competed in the highest level of Women’s Water Polo, the Australian National Water Polo League, since 2005 for the Victorian Tigers. She has also been a State Representative for the Victorian State Team from 1999-2007.

In 2007 Ali’s achievements in Water Polo resulted in her receiving a full athletic scholarship to Arizona State University for the spring season. While studying she was awarded All-American Team Selection for Outstanding achievements in both athletics and academics.

Sara Hungerford, Cricket - B Medicine

Sara Hungerford is a returning scholar for Cricket. Sara has been named Universities Women’s Club Captain and First Grade Captain for 2007/08. In 2007 Sara was also selected as Captain of the NSW 2nd XI team which took 1st place in the Cricket Australia Cup in Melbourne.

In 2008 Sara gained section in the NSW Breakers Development Squad as well as the NSW XI which hosted India at Bradman Oval in Bowral. Sara was also named Vice Captain for NSW 2nd XI, to play in Cricket Australia Cup, Tasmania and Vice Captain for NSW ‘Power Education’ State League Challenge.

Michael Janov, Football - B Mechanical Engineering

Michael has been a key defensive player for the UNSW FC 1st Grade squad since 2007 competing in the NSW Men’s State League Division 1. In his first season with the club, in 2007, Michael was awarded 1st Grade ‘Best and Fairest’.

In 2007 Michael was also a member of the Unigames team that won the Gold Medal in Division 1 at the AUGs on the Gold Coast. He continued his form on the field last year at earning him a place in the Australian University Green and Gold Team for 2008.

Gabrielle King, Sailing - B Commerce

Gabrielle King is an outstanding sailor and a returning Lexcen scholar for 2009.
In 2008 Gabrielle defended her 2007 winning title at the Volvo ISAF Youth World Championships and added to her tally winning Gold at the Laser Radial Youth Worlds.

Gabrielle has continued her success over the 2008/09 summer placing 1st at Sail Brisbane, 2nd at the Sydney International Regatta, 2nd at Sail Melbourne, 1st at the Women's Nationals, and 3rd in Open division of the Asia Pacific Championships.

Lauren Kitchen, Cycling - B Planning

Lauren Kitchen is a new scholar for 2009. At only 18 years of age she is already achieved a great deal in her sport of cycling. Some of Laurens sporting highlights over the last few years include finishing 7th at the Junior World Championships Women’s Road Race in Mexico in 2007. In 2008 she won the Australian U19 Women’s Road Race Championships as well as The Jayco Bay Criterium series for Open women stage 2 where she also finished 1st Overall in the Green/Sprint Jersey Competition.

2008 also saw Lauren honoured with the prestigious ‘Australian Junior Cyclist of the Year’ award.

Click here to view Lauren's webpage

Scott Kneller, Skiing - B Engineering / Commerce

Scott Kneller is a new Lexcen scholar for 2008. Some of Scotts recent highlights include placing 1st at both the Thredbo Freeride Series Skier X and the Australian Junior National Championships Slalom. Scott also placed 4th at the Australian National Championships Slalom.

Scott represented Australia in the FIS Freestyle World Championships in Japan in March, finishing 29th out of 52 in the Men's Ski Cross.

Click here to Scott's webpage

Dave Matthews, Triathlon - B Media & Communications

David Matthews is a talented tri-athlete and a returning scholar. Over the last couple of years, David has been a NSW Institute of Sport Scholarship holder and has had success on a National and International level.

In 2008 Dave placed 20th at the U23 2008 World championships, he also placed 4th at the Amakusa Continental Cup in Japan, 5th at the Musselman ITU elite triathlon in New York and 5th at the Kelowna ITU elite triathlon in Canada.

Ben Miller, Canoe Slalom - B Civil Engineering

Ben Miller is a returning scholar in the sport of Canoe Slalom. Ben’s talent for the sport was first recognised through the 2004 AIS ‘Beyond Beijing’ Talent Squad. Since then, Ben developed quickly and is now a member of the Australian Junior Slalom Team and the NSW State Junior Slalom Team.

In July 2007 Ben travelled to Europe with the Australian Junior Slalom team, gaining valuable competition experience in the Czech Republic. Ben is showing great promise and is hoping to qualify for London 2012.

2008 saw Ben place 1st in the Slalom Series Penrith White Water Stadium,
28th at University World Championships (1st out of all Australians), and 5th at NSW State Championships. Ben was also selected for Senior State NSW team to compete at the Nationals which were held in Jan 09.

Luane Rowe, Swimming - B Industrial Design

Luane has excelled in both competitive pool and open water swimming. 2008 saw Luanne backed up her 2007 performance and again win Gold in the 800m freestyle event at the Australian University Games in record time. She also won Silver in the in the 400m freestyle sealing her selection for the second year in a row in the Green and Gold squad.

In 2008 Luane also had a busy open water season winning Gold in a number of races including the Cole Classic and Bondi Classic. Other highlights from 2008 include a Gold medal in 1500m in Australian Short Course championships in Melbourne, being named in the Emerging Athlete program with NSWIS, and a FINA World Cup Silver Medal in the 800m freestyle.

To cap off a successful year Luanne was named 2008 UNSW Female Athlete of the Year. So far in 2009 Luanne has already placed 3rd in the Cole Classic.

Alexandra Smith, Football - B Inductrial Design

Alexandra is a returning Lexcen Scholar. In the 2008/09 Futsal season her club Mascot Vipers were Minor Premiers of the Women’s Premier League and winners of the NSW State Titles. Alex also gained selection in the NSW Futsal Lightening squad and competed at the FFA Futsal Nationals where her team placed 2nd.

In the 2008 outdoor season Alex was awarded the UNSW Women’s Super League ‘Best and Fairest’ and was Runner Up as the NSW WSL ‘Player of the Year’. In 2009 Alexandra will be competing for North West Sydney Koalas in the NSW Women’s Premier League Division.  

George Tang, Table Tennis - B Materials Science & Engineering

George Tang is a returning scholar this year. In 2007 George represented Australia in the Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi winning Bronze. George was also selected to represent Australia at the World University Games in Bangkok.

In 2008 George was a member of the Australian National Squad and the Olympic Shadow Squad. George had a very successful Oceania Championship with a Silver in the Men’s Singles, Bronze in the Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles as well as being named Oceania Teams Champion.

Daniel Waldmann, Judo - B Arts

Daniel Waldmann is a scholar in the sport of Judo. He won the 2007 Sydney Open Under 73kg Young Men’s’ division and came second in Senior U73kg.
In 2008 Daniel competed against the top players in the country in the ACT Open in February and won a Bronze medal. Daniel came back the following weekend and fought a strong division in the 2008 Sydney Open where he won Gold.

Daniel is currently a member of the Australian National Judo Team. Most recently Daniel won the November State Challenge in 2008 and placed in the NSW International and ACT International competitions subsequently placing him in 3rd place on the National Points Table. Daniel also represented Australia at the US Open in Colorado.

Ewan Watson, Cross Country Ski - B Engineering