Ngunnawal student Shanae White's journey into medicine began during her grandfather's battle with brain cancer.

Her story highlights the growing STEM talent emerging from rural Queensland, where resources can often be scarce.

Ms White, a Year 12 student at Blackwater State High School, initially thought her application for the 2024 Peter Doherty Awards was a long shot.

However earlier this month she joined 27 others at the awards ceremony, sharing in $140,000 of prize money.

The Peter Doherty Awards celebrate excellence in STEM education across Queensland, recognising outstanding achievements by students, teachers and schools.

"My Grandfather's battle with brain cancer influenced my decision to pursue a career in medicine," she said.

"When he first got sick, he went to the Rockhampton base hospital, where they discovered brain bleeding, but something else was wrong.

"They didn't have the equipment, so he was flown to Brisbane, but only my nana could go with him... the rest of my family and I had to drive to Brisbane late that night."

This experience exposed her to the challenges faced by rural healthcare facilities.

"I could see that areas like Rockhampton and Blackwater are disadvantaged because they don't have the staff or equipment to help save lives and diagnose people correctly," Ms White explained.

Her early exposure to the medical field deepened her curiosity.

"When my pop asked for pictures of his brain during surgery, I thought it was super cool," she said.

"The surgeon took pictures, and you could see the tumour because it was a different colour from the brain.

"This was a hard time in my life, but it helped me discover what I wanted to do after school."

Ms White's determination to pursue medicine was further strengthened through participation in STEM programs like the STEM Girl Power camp.

"These STEM camps and programs opened my eyes to the world of science and how different areas work together," she said.

"They took me to universities where I could ask students about their studies, especially those in medicine."

She also gained practical skills in the Future Doctors program.

"I learned how to do stitches, diagnose diseases through symptoms, perform keyhole surgery on a fake abdomen, and draw blood using a fake arm," Ms White said.

"This program also allowed me to meet like-minded people and listen to doctors talk about their journey through medicine."

Ms White encourages other rural students to be proactive.

"Look for opportunities, as sometimes they won't come to you," she said.

"Take every opportunity you can, as it will help expand your network and open your mind to everything.

"Opportunities are few and far between when you live out rural, so apply for everything you can because you never know where something will take you."

Her proactive approach and dedication to learning have led her to this prestigious recognition, making her a role model for aspiring STEM students across Queensland.