2025-26 Scholars
The Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) is delighted to announce the recipients of the inaugural AMSI Yuille-Umbers Female Specialist Maths High School Scholarships.
2025/26 AMSI Yuille-Umbers Female Specialist Maths High School Scholars
Jaishmeen Brar
My name is Jaishmeen Brar, and I am a Year 11 student at Elevation Secondary College. I have a deep passion for mathematics, enjoying its logical and problem-solving aspects to challenge me to think critically and prepare me for real-world applications that help us understand its true potential.
Through the Yuille-Umbers Scholarship, I aim to strengthen my mathematical skills and knowledge to not only undertake Specialist Mathematics in 2025 and 2026 but further towards my goals. I wish to pursue a career in Mechanical and Software/Systems Engineering, both of which rely heavily on mathletics. Specialist Math will allow me to grasp a better understanding of the knowledge required of me in my future studies, motivating me to get a head start before entering uni, this is made even more possible by the opportunities presented by the Scholarship.
Grace Bramwell
My name is Grace Bramwell, I am in year 10 and attend Cobram Secondary College. I love maths for multiple reasons; it’s intriguing, fun, and I enjoy doing it. Math works in such a unique way, with some concepts that seem so outlandish that you would never expect them to work, and yet they do. Everything in maths I love learning about, and there isn’t anything that doesn’t intrigue me.
My goal with the Yuille-Umbers Scholarship is to improve my mathematical skills, especially in specialist maths. I would like to do my absolute best in specialist and try my hardest. I plan to use the scholarship to achieve this goal, by tutoring and mentoring, as I must complete this class online. In the future I would like to do an area of study in zoology or environmental science, and work in fields related to climate science. I also would like to become a maths teacher later in the future, as my math teachers that I have had throughout school have inspired me greatly. Additionally, working in a job where I get to teach and talk about maths interests me.
Mia Costa
I’m Mia Costa, I’m currently in year 10, and I’m a maths-loving student at St Albans Secondary College. Mathematics has always been a subject that I can rely on to challenge my understanding and expand my knowledge. At first glance, maths is just numbers and symbols placed side-by-side, but with deeper consideration, you begin to realise that it fosters an effective problem-solving, resilient mindset that is not only used within the subject, but in everyday life, and is why I hold mathematics in such high regard. With this invaluable advantage provided by the Yuille-Umbers Scholarship, I plan to make the most of every program and mentorship offered. I know that, with the abundance of resources and opportunities presented, this scholarship will encourage me to reach my highest potential and achieve my future aspirations.
In the future, I hope to pursue a career in engineering. I enjoy the adaptability and math-heavy workload of the job, and I strive to go down the field of biomedical or chemical engineering.
Natalia Shimona
My name is Natalia Shimona, and I am currently in Year 10 with plans to study a Year 12 accelerated subject. I attend Elevation Secondary College, a relatively new public school, where I have been a student since Year 7. Among the many subjects I take, mathematics is the one I find most intriguing and rewarding. What fascinates me about mathematics is its complexity and the challenge it presents, especially at higher levels. Solving a complicated problem feels incredibly satisfying and is a great confidence booster. Mathematics is also unique because it offers multiple ways to approach a solution, making it a deeply personal yet universal discipline. Unlike languages, mathematics is universal, while people don’t communicate directly through maths, it provides a common language for understanding and solving problems worldwide.
Being offered the Yuille-Umbers Scholarship would support my goal of excelling in Specialist Mathematics and applying my learning to real-world problems. This foundation will not only enhance my high school studies but also prepare me for future challenges in university and beyond. I aspire to pursue architecture, a field where mathematics and art intersect. I draw inspiration from a well-known female architect, Zaha Hadid, who broke barriers in a male-dominated field. Initially dismissed as a ‘paper architect,’ she defied expectations and gained global recognition for her innovative and eye-catching designs. Her story motivates me to strive for excellence in a field that is both demanding and creative. This scholarship will empower me to deepen my understanding of mathematics and embrace its role in shaping my future as an architect.
