Genevieve Whitehead, who graduated from Brisbane’s St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in 2018, is about to embark on an exciting opportunity in the United States.
Eighteen-year-old Genevieve attended St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School as a boarder for the past five years and it was through her participation in the school’s well recognised rowing program that she was recruited to become a student-athlete at Wisconsin University.
“I attended a presentation by a rowing recruiter early last year which opened my eyes to student-athlete opportunities in America and I just knew then I had to pursue the opportunity. The staff at St Margaret’s helped me through the process from start to finish,” she said.
Genevieve will study a four-year Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in Finance, Investment and Banking at the University of Wisconsin as well as joining the highly successful Badger rowing program which has produced 18 female Olympians.
She hopes to make the first Novice Eight in her freshman year and the Badger’s famous first Varsity Eight by her senior year.
The well-rounded athlete was also a member of the St Margaret’s swimming, touch football, water polo and athletics teams in addition to the rowing squad.
A Prefect and House Captain, Genevieve also balanced her sporting commitments with her studies achieving exceptional academic results in her senior year.
Excited to be making the move to the other side of the globe, Genevieve said she is ready to take on the challenges that await her. “Wisconsin’s rowing program is one of the elite programs in the States. I’m so excited to be part of such a prestigious program and to improve my rowing technique,” she revealed.
“Wisconsin offers exceptional academics, a superb rowing program, a magnificent campus and very importantly a strong, spirited culture. It will mean many hours of hard work and sacrifice but I can’t wait to be a Badger.
“Living as a boarder at St Margaret’s helped build my confidence and independence and has truly prepared me to take on the opportunity of living and studying abroad.”
Genevieve is no stranger to global living, having attended Shawnigan Lake School in British Columbia, Canada, as part of the school’s Year 10 Global Exchange Program.
Pictured above (L-R): St Margaret’s teacher Beck Meares, Genevieve Whitehead and St Margaret’s Head of Rowing Jared Bidwell.