Scholarship win for Elliot

Former Safety Bay Senior High School student Elliot Puccinelli is on the right track towards a successful engineering career after he was awarded a prestigious West Australian Mining Club scholarship.

A first-year Bachelor of Engineering student at Curtin University, the 19-year-old Waikiki resident has been awarded the Engineering in the Mining Sector Scholarship, which includes $10,000 towards his studies.

Formed in 1972, the WA Mining Club contributes to the advancement of the State’s mining industry by promoting and encouraging information, as well as the sharing of knowledge.

Mr Puccinelli began his university life undertaking a Bachelor of Science course and transferred to engineering this year.

“I have always enjoyed maths and science and towards the end of school I decided I wanted to work in mining,” he said.

“I didn’t study physics though, so I had to work hard in my first year of uni to make the grades for a transfer into engineering.

“I received a phone call from the people at Curtin telling me about the scholarships so I decided to apply and it was a pleasant shock to discover that I had won.”

Mr Puccinelli hopes to attend WA Mining Club events to meet industry people and possibly tee up some vacation work.

“I have to keep my grades up to receive the scholarship funds, but its a great incentive to work hard,” he said. “Later in my studies I will spend some time in Kalgoorlie at the WA School of Mines so the scholarship money will come in handy during that time.”

Mr Puccinelli said his dad worked in the mining industry and knew a bit about the WA Mining Club. “When I finish my degree I hope to get a job as a junior engineer and continue learning so I can work my way up to management,” he said.

“I am enjoying university life and look forward to second and third year when I can start to choose the area I want to specialise in.”