At just 20, Samantha D should have the world at her feet.

She has completed her Higher School Certificate (HSC), commenced a science degree at Macquarie University and dreams one day of attaining a doctorate, travelling the world and having a scientific career.

But Samantha has terminal cancer.

“In September last year I was staying at a friend’s house and I got up in the morning to get ready for school and just got this shocking, really bad abdominal pain and I was almost screaming,” she said.

Within weeks Samantha had surgery for two stomach tumours and underwent chemotherapy.

Then her doctors told her that whether she continued with treatment or not, she probably had about 12 months to live.

“I said, ‘If all of this is not going to make any difference I don’t see much point in spending four months being completely sick [from chemotherapy] all the time when I could be doing stuff I want to do’, so I’ve decided not to continue with it.”

The illness is just one of the obstacles Samantha overcame to complete her HSC and claim one of the 2007 Brother John Taylor Memorial Prizes, awarded to students who have battled disability or disadvantage to achieve academic excellence in Year 12.

Andrei G, 18, who coped with the debilitating and painful effects of Crohn’s disease to repeat Year 12 and complete his HSC at Sydney Technical High School, was the other recipient.

They are the 20th and 21st recipients of the $1,000 Brother John Taylor Memorial Prizes.

The award, administered by the Board of Studies NSW, was introduced in 1993 to commemorate the contribution made by the late Brother John Taylor as a principal, executive director of Catholic education and a member of education boards.

The Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, said both young adults shared “an incredible spirit”.

“You have earnt the admiration of your peers and indeed all of us throughout NSW,” he said during the award presentation at Parliament House.

“You are an inspiration to all of us.” Mr Della Bosca paid tribute to Andrei’s “steely determination” to not let illness keep him from achieving his goal of studying engineering and business at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Andrei, who was ill and juggled hospitalisation and medication changes throughout both HSC attempts, said the support of his parents “who told me not to push myself too hard” was important to his success.

“I was nervous before doing my trial exams the second time because the year before I got sick and went to hospital,” he said.

“But I just focused on taking things one exam at a time.”

Sydney Technical High School principal Jacqueline Lyons said Andrei had shown “great perseverance and a lot of determination” to come back to a different year group and do “an outstanding job”.

Mr Della Bosca also recognised Samantha’s courage in overcoming “unimaginable hardship” before illness struck.

Samantha said she changed schools four times in five years and took a year off school in 2005 to “sort out some family issues”.

In 2006 she settled with her mother in Bega but their organised accommodation fell through, leaving them to live in a tent in a caravan park.

Bega High School principal Jillian Tourlas said staff would often see Samantha completing her homework “at the tables in the public mall under the streetlights in winter” because she lacked adequate facilities at her accommodation.

Then just before starting Year 12, Samantha’s mum moved from Bega but the teenager chose to stay in the town.

With the support of the school, her friends and their families – who provided Samantha with accommodation – she was able to complete her schooling.

“Without their support I would have had to move and wouldn’t have been able to finish my HSC and get into uni,” Samantha said.

“They’ve been there for me through everything, they’re true friends.”