Reflecting on 2024
From the College Principal, Fiona Hastings
December 2024
As we approach the end of another remarkable year at Sancta, I am filled with both pride and wonder at the community we share.
At the beginning of 2024, we welcomed 154 new students to Sancta: 105 new undergraduates and 49 new postgrads, representing 21 countries and 46 localities across NSW. Our community is achieving genuine diversity while maintaining its strong commitment to being a home-away-from-home for women from regional NSW.
2024 offered many highlights for me, including:
- Standing among a large crowd of Sancta students at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, proudly cheering on our swimming squad. You may not know that the Sancta mascot, the goose, has captured the hearts of students, and the sound of honking echoes at intercollegiate sporting events.
- Experiencing the excitement of our talented students’ third consecutive Palladian Dance victory through real-time updates while I was on a pilgrimage in and around Dublin. Even from afar, I felt the joy of their incredible achievements on the intercollegiate stage.
- Welcoming the new Chancellor of the University of Sydney, David Thodey AO FTSE, to Sancta for his first official event at a University of Sydney college. He was an informed, intelligent, and engaging guest who spent much of the evening conversing with our students. He helped us celebrate individual academic achievements and the collective success of our undergraduate University of Sydney cohort, who together attained a stunning distinction average.
Fiona Hastings, Lily Betland (FR’ 2024) & David Thodey AO FTSE.
- Sharing many moments with Sr Shanahan, who blesses me with her friendship, and gives Sancta the great gifts of her time, her prayer, her humour, her inspiration and most of all, her wisdom.
- The Harry Potter-themed Formal Dinner! The staff of Sancta ‘took over’ the last Formal Dinner of the year and transformed the Sheldon Dining Hall into the Great Hall of Hogwarts. The night was a highlight for me because it showcased how much energy and love the Sancta staff bring to creating a great experience for our students. I encourage you to watch these videos to see the magic for yourself.
Sancta staff dressed up as Hogwarts teachers.
- Always my favourite night of the year, Vale, Sancta’s Valedictory Dinner, reached new heights this year. Dining in the Quad under a starry sky seems to infuse a magical mood into proceedings. Symbolising the year’s end, and marking the last time we will come together, is always poignant, and especially so this year. It has been a special year, and we already miss those who are leaving.
One of the joys of our valedictory celebration each year is welcoming a new cohort to the Sancta alumni community. It thrills me that they leave knowing how much the wider Sancta community have shaped their experience, whether as mentors, guest speakers, scholarship creators, or sources of inspiration. It is both inspiring and comforting for our newest alumni to know that there is a supportive community looking out and encouraging them on their individual journeys.
As we look toward 2025, we are already planning a welcome for our new students. Over 70% of our new undergraduates will be from regional NSW, while we expect our postgraduates will include the usual large number of medical students, and a similar diversity of domestic and international students that has been a feature of this community.
We are also looking forward to finalising our first Reconciliation Action Plan, preparing our centenary celebrations, and welcoming more alumni back to College to connect, share stories and acknowledge all that they do.