A Port Lincoln native will lead a group of 200 students who live at St Ann’s College in Adelaide for the 2024 school year.
After serving as a residential advisor (RA) this year, Dana Hurrell was appointed as co-senior residential advisor at the college.
Hurrell, 21, is currently studying for a bachelor of science (advanced) at the University of Adelaide.
Her goal is to become a mathematics and chemistry teacher at secondary school and believes the role will help her to develop the skills necessary to become an exemplary teacher.
“Becoming an RA was a natural step for me to take to improve my leadership and interpersonal skills,” she said.
“I had incredible teachers growing up and my aim is to be able to impact students positively in the same way they guided me.
“As a senior RA, I am hoping to grow as an individual, and as a member of the team.”
Dana’s leadership experience extends back to school, where she attended St Joseph’s School Port Lincoln.
She lists junior school vice-captain, senior school captain, and club captain for the West Coast Swimming Club as past roles.
She also exhibited the St Ann’s culture traits of respect, integrity and compassion in her spare time as a high schooler as a volunteer at Fred’s Van Meal Service run by Vinnies, a youth group leader at her local Catholic Church and a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Port Lincoln Leisure Centre.
St Ann’s principal and chief executive officer Wendy Fleming said Dana was a great fit for the role.
“Dana has shown great maturity and diligence as a residential advisor and I am delighted that she has agreed to take on the highly respected role as senior residential advisor for 2024,” she said.
“She has shown through her actions a great willingness to continue fostering the strong sense of community at St Ann’s College.”
Dana will share the role with fellow student Mikayla Russell, 22, of Darwin.
Dana’s younger sister, Kylie, also resides at the college.
Founded in 1939, St Ann’s College is a university residential college located in North Adelaide with nearly 200 students.
In the tradition of residential colleges popular in the UK and US, the institution provides a place of living and learning for students whose home is a long way away from their place of study.
“My time at St Ann’s has been indescribable,” Dana said.
“The people I have met have become like family and it truly has become my home away from home.”
