By XAVIER SMERDON
A POINT Cook teenager has been recognised as one of the most remarkable people in her age group from Wyndham.
Kimberly Pellosis was announced as the winner of the Wyndham Young Achiever of the Year award at a presentation evening at the Youth Resource Centre in Hoppers Crossing earlier this month.
Kimberly is studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne and her long list of achievements and commitments include working as a researcher with Earthwatch Australia and being a mentor for The Science Experience, a hands-on education program for secondary school students.
She is also a Young Scientists of Australia committee member, a member of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and a volunteer with UNICEF, Amnesty International and Oxfam.
“I think I can fit everything in just because ever since high school and Year 12 I had to learn how to manage my time a lot better,” Kimberly said.
“It’s just about knowing what your priorities are.”
Kimberly said she hopes to do a Masters Degree in Environmental Science in the future.
“I really like research, that’s probably the science geek in me,” she said.
“I’d like to work in a practical industry though so that I can make a difference.”
Her father is also an engineer, albeit in a different field.
“When I told him I wanted to be an engineer he was like ‘yes, we have another engineer in the family’,” she said.
“But he’s an electrical engineer so when I said I wanted to be an environmental engineer he was a bit shocked.”
To add to Kimberly’s achievements, she also won a gold medal in softball at the recent Australian University Games.
Her $1000 prize for becoming Wyndham Young Achiever of the Year will go towards her school fees and help her buy some of her books.
