Mareeba State High student Brenden Crago enrolled in CQUniversity's Visual Programming subject last year when he was aged 15, joining the Start Uni Now (SUN) program through flexible online learning.

He soon proved himself with a High Distinction and has forged ahead with his academic pursuits again this year.

Brenden Crago pictured in the lab at school

Now in Year 11, Brenden is one of five Queensland students attending an all-expenses-paid workshop at the prestigious Professor Harry Messel International Science School at the University of Sydney this month.

He was also among nine students from Mareeba High to receive a Defence Technical Scholarship.

Brenden says he's keen to become an electronics engineer designing silicon chips for computers "but any career in engineering is appealing to me".

"My interest in electronic engineering is based in my interest in computers, which have played a major part in many recent scientific discoveries. I would like to build systems that could be used to advance humanity," he says.

Brenden says that mixing with talented peers at the international science school "is a wonderful opportunity to network and make new friends from across the globe".

"Gaining a defence technical subject was a process of filling an application that was a questionnaire about myself and possible careers in the Australian Defence Force. To be eligible you must also take a registered technical subject eg. Maths C or Technology studies."

Brenden studies hard but manages to find time to relax by playing guitar and saxophone in his spare time.

Mareeba High Gifted and Talented Coordinator Christina Ellacott says Brenden has demonstrated a deep and passionate interest in the sciences and his application for the international science school was praised as a 'stand-out'.