Photo © Vanessa Giordano, 2007

Vanessa Giordano

"I am currently a third year Fine Arts student majoring in Photography. During my degree I have encountered a number of challenges that have caused me to seek financial assistance from the scholarships office. I have been honored to receive help from them by receiving a George Alexander Foundation Grant and a Commonwealth Learning Scholarship, which have allowed me to pursue my passion to understand photography and produce work that connects to people.

"It felt incredible to be able to have the money to support my passion and allow me to manifest the ideas I had for my work, I was able to flourish and I did not have to hold myself back because I did not have the financial support to create my ideas into images. The assistance allowed me the opportunity to explore and produce images as I was able to purchase photographic equipment, film, printing, research and university costs.

"I am grateful to the scholarships office for acknowledging and believing in my ambition to succeed and in my work, by providing me the financial assistance to do so. I feel a deep appreciation for the opportunities that they have provided to me because without it I would not have been able to study what I love."