She said the $2000 scholarship would help her to pay uni fees and buy text books.

``I'm studying a bachelor of social science majoring in criminology,'' she said.

``So the money will really help me with my fees.''

The UWS vice-chancellor, Professor Janice Reid, said the scholarship recipients were academically excellent in their fields and leaders in their communities.

``UWS has a commitment to ensuring its most talented and dedicated students have the opportunity to realise their future career goals and lifelong ambitions,'' she said.

``By awarding scholarships, UWS can help to ease the financial burden on these students and allow them the freedom to focus on their studies and achieve their full potential.''

Miss Mulhall said the scholarship would help with her education, so hopefully she could put something back into the shire one day.

``To win we had to have lived in Wollondilly for more than one year, have good HSC marks and be enrolled in a bachelor of social science,'' she said.

``Then we had an interview to make sure we were suitable for it.''