Passion leads to award hat-trick after first year

Courtney Ciffolilli has attributed a passion for agriculture to helping her secure three awards following her first 12 months of tertiary study.

Ms Ciffolilli, who was raised in Dardanup, is completing a bachelor of agricultural business management through Charles Sturt University while based at the Muresk Institute in Northam.

On April 12, the former Bunbury Catholic College student was acknowledged for achieving top marks in her first year of study at the institute’s annual awards ceremony.

Ms Ciffolilli was bestowed with the Muresk Old Collegians Association Leadership Award, Linley Valley Pork prize for livestock production and WA Property Lawyers prize for business law.

The 19-year-old admitted she was overwhelmed to win the three gongs and said she had enjoyed studying at the Northam-based institute.

“I got two awards for being the top of the class and a third for leadership,” Ms Ciffolilli said.

“The first year was really good, I loved it, it’s like a little community. Muresk is a really exciting place to be.”

Ms Ciffolilli said she was glad to complete the three-year degree at Muresk because she could still live in WA and did not have to relocate to New South Wales.

Although she is still unsure what career to follow, Ms Ciffolilli said the degree would provide many opportunities once she graduated.

“I’ve always been interested in agriculture and food so it made sense to choose that path,” she said.