Shanela heads to Augustana

Thursday, 3 August 2017 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

1500 Shanela Ranaraja, a brilliant academic from Colombo International School Kandy (CISK) was recently placed at Augustana College Rock Island Illinois USA by Scholarships for USA Ltd. (SUSA) with a very generous scholarship. On top of her brilliant achievements at IGCSEs, AS levels and A2 level exams she reached 2nd in the world for English Literature at June ‘16 A2 exam and was recognised at the Pearsons Edexcel High Achievers Awards Ceremony for her success.

She was also an outstanding all rounder captaining school in netball and athletics and was appointed a senior School Prefect for ‘15 & ‘16. She excelled in art and held her first Solo Art Exhibition at the invitation of Alliance Francaise Kandy in October ‘16 well reviewed and received. She plans to major in Anthropology whilst continuing with her passion in art.

Ranked in the top 100 National Liberal Arts Colleges according to US News & World Report and top 20 safest colleges by Shenyang Daily News Augustana is a selective residential college with 2,500 undergraduates from diverse backgrounds including 200 students from 40 countries and more than half of the States. According to the Forbes Magazine Augustana is number 8 among all colleges and universities in Illinois and is among the top 20 most beautiful colleges in America according to Thrillist.com. Augustana offers 90 majors, minors and other academic programs range from the humanities to pre-health sciences – newest being data analytics.

Through “Augie Choice” the college gives every student $ 2,000 to support an internship, research or study abroad. Its distinctive location in the quad cities along River Mississippi is a great benefit to student learning and career exploration. The area provides internships, jobs and job-shadowing, research and volunteer sites and many other opportunities to explore fields, gain skills and expand professionally.

SUSA since ‘01 is committed to introduce the most affordable US education to deserving Lankan academics and its association with few selected colleges and universities across the US has so far benefited over 300 students across the island. They are the only Lankan recruiter who works exclusively with US institutes and extensive visits each summer has resulted in discovering amazing scholarships, top quality education, safe locations and warmest and friendly environs where scores of Lankans have reached unbelievable heights in academics and professionalism.

Asked about how she rated the guidance received from SUSA Mom Shyamali responded; “I called Priyanthi having seen a write-up in Sunday Times and was so impressed with the kind and courteous assistance Shanela received from both Priyanthi and Dissa from the very beginning. They went over and beyond what we expected from the start and their prompt forwarding Shanela’s resume to numerous partners resulting in amazing scholarships offers from very good universities and colleges. They made the entire admission process an enjoyable one with Shanela receiving her admissions and visa well in advance. Lalith and I have no hesitation in acknowledging that we are unlikely to have been able to make the process of admission such a pleasant one without the assistance we received from SUSA.”