STAR lighting the path to tertiary study for Lily

She is part of the STAR programme at Lincoln, studying the Management 106 Global Food Systems course while doing Level 3 NCEA at Waitaki Girls High School.

“I have found this course to be a new challenge that has taught me a lot. It has also helped me with my time management and with the transition between school work to university level work," she says.

STAR (Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource) allows Year 12-13 students to enrol in first year degree-level courses.

They learn about the global food system, sustainability and the land based issues that affect us all, studying online at a higher level in a supported learning environment, with regular tutorials.

Credits earned go towards their degrees if they start tertiary study. There are no fees, and if they come to Lincoln they can benefit from a scholarship in the first year of their degree.

Lily is from a cropping, sheep and beef farm in Ngapara and has a passion for farming and animals (especially horses and dogs), so Lincoln, as a specialist land-based university, is a great fit.

"My life goal is to own my own beef and lamb farm," she says.

She appreciates the "great support" she has received from lecturers and STAR staff.