General News
14 February, 2024
Morden chases opportunities
TIMBOON student Emily Morden is following some of her idols on a career path which has taken her to the other side of the world to study.
She graduated from Timboon P-12 School as dux in 2021 and in same year her running career kicked off with a third placing in the national championships for steeplechase.
Ms Morden’s success in athletics opened up an opportunity to study in the USA.
“I never would have considered moving so far from home but I soon realised that attending college in the US is one of the best pathways for young athletes such as myself to gain racing experience and be supported in training and completing a degree,” she said.
“Many of our Australian Olympians, including one of my idols, Jessica Hull, have taken this path as a step between a junior and senior athletic career.
Having decided to study in the USA, Ms Morden chose Utah Valley University where her studies are being supported by a Powell Legacy Scholarship administered by the DemoDAIRY Foundation.
“I liked the coach, the team culture seemed amazing, the team was actively rising up in the national rankings, training at high altitude offers great physiological benefits, and it seemed like a beautiful place,” she said.
Ms Morden also found a place to rival the Great Ocean Road.
“It’s hard to say that something rivals the Great Ocean Road, but the Zion Canyon scenic drive was absolutely breathtaking,” she said.
“The mountains only 20 minutes from me are also gorgeous, and I love when we run up various canyons or around the foothills.
“Even just having the mountains as a backdrop to everything is beautiful.”
Ms Morden has decided to study a major in psychology and a minor in biology as she strives to become an occupational therapist.
She has become fascinated by the intersection of biology and psychology and has joined a neuroscience laboratory on campus to complete scientific research for credit, investigating the effect of antioxidants on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) using fruit flies as a model organism.
“We test how many flies survive to adulthood with or without FASD and how their learning is impacted using the principles of classical conditioning,” Ms Morden said.
She is also volunteering as a shadow occupational therapist to better understand the role.
While studying, Ms Morden has been competing in interstate competitions with teammates throughout the cross-country season.
“This was a major goal for me, as of the 20 girls on the team only 10 are selected to represent UVU when we travel interstate,” she said.
After recovering from injury, she has travelled to California, Pennsylvania and Texas, setting a new 5km personal best of 17:21.
After completing her degree, Ms Morden plans to return to Australia for a masters in Occupational Therapy.
“I’m not quite sure where I’ll end up living and working; however, I’m a country girl at heart so I’m not planning on staying in the city for longer than needed, and Australia will always be home,” she said.
According to Ms Morden, she greatly appreciated the continued support of the Powell Legacy Fund Scholarship which allowed her to continue to invest in her academic and athletic pursuits.
“The Powell Legacy Scholarship has greatly helped to ease my financial burden, especially as it can be difficult to work whilst having to practice every day and being on a student visa,” she said.
“Technically the scholarship is helping me with my accommodation, however, I think of it as helping me save enough money so that I can visit home each break, and that is something I don’t think I could emotionally deal without.”
During her 2023 visit to Australia, Ms Morden not only reconnected with family and the extended Timboon and Port Campbell community, she also spent time milking for Shultz Organic Dairy.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, having grown up around dairy farms but never actually worked on one,” she said.
Visit the DemoDAIRY Foundation website https://www.demodairy.com.au or contact DDF secretary Ian Teese on 0427 358987 or itag@bigpond.com for more information on DDF or the Powell Legacy Fund.
