Leo

The Murray J Collins – The City Gardener Scholarship for 2020 has been awarded to Leo Sammut (born in 1998, from Victoria). Leo is from a regional area of central Victoria and the first in family to attend university.

They are currently studying a Bachelor of Science Advanced – Global Challenges at Monash University and in 2020 will be undertaking their third year. Leo has had an outstanding academic record and they were awarded the Dean’s List for outstanding academic achievement in 2018 and they have achieved mainly High Distinctions in 2019.

Leo commented that, “This degree combines science with entrepreneurship, leadership, and science communication. The course requires its students to study science along with students in the Bachelor of Science while taking on additional units designed to improve job prospects in a changing workplace. In addition to our science practice we also learn about emotional intelligence, adaptive leadership, start-ups and how to bring science out of the lab.” 

In terms of community engagement Leo has been a very active volunteer across a wide range of activities which promote transgender rights and acceptance including, creating informative booklets, hosting social group for first year transgender science students, volunteering at Midsumma Pride march and Minus 18 group and running workshops at Monash on trans inclusiveness.