New students gain $12,000 scholarships
Six first-year students at the University of the Sunshine Coast have each received a $12,000 academic excellence scholarship.
The new scholarships for high-achieving students were established this year through the USC Foundation’s Building Excellence Campaign, following generous donations to the University by Sir Clem Renouf and Tim Fairfax AM as well as numerous gifts from the community.
Foundation Executive Officer Andrew Pentland said students who had achieved OP scores of between 1 and 6 (or equivalent) were eligible for the scholarships.
The presentations were made at a special gathering at the University in April at which the recipients made some heart-felt speeches in appreciation of the generosity shown to them.
The Renouf Family Scholarships are in memory of Sir Clem Renouf’s parents in honour of their efforts in providing him with the best education possible under challenging circumstances.
The inaugural recipients were Karina Hamilton of Urangan State High School and Tamika Magometovs of Maroochydore State High School.The Tim Fairfax Regional Scholarships are aimed at supporting students who have relocated from regional or remote areas.
This year’s recipients were Fiona Finnegan of Gin Gin State High School and Sarah McIntosh of Chinchilla State High School.The USC Chancellor’s Scholarships —awarded to recognise, reward and encourage academic excellence—went to Nikita Tully of Suncoast Christian College and Rebecca Rinehart of St Patrick’s College in Gympie.
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Business awards lead to employment
Outstanding accounting graduate Kirsty Redgen, 20, collected four industry awards at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s annual Faculty of Business Awards and Prizes Ceremony in April.
Kirsty received the CPA Australia Prize for the Best Third Year Graduating Accounting Student, the KPMG Prize for the Best Student in Auditing and Professional Practice, the Rockcote Enterprises Prize for the Best Student in Management Accounting, and the Taxation Institute of Australia Prize for the Outstanding Student in Contemporary Accounting Issues.
The awards ceremony is eagerly anticipated by USC business students as well as industry award donors who gain a unique opportunity to meet and recruit some of the best business students in the region.
Kirsty, who now works as an accountant for Focus Professional Group at Cotton Tree, said the annual awards event certainly paid dividends for her in terms of employment.
She said she met Focus director Allen Hertel when she won her first Faculty of Business award in 2006. A year later, with two more awards under her belt, Mr Hertel hired her and she completed her Bachelor of Business degree part-time.
Twenty-eight local, state and national businesses and organisations presented 40 awards to USC students this year and 10 scholarships and bursaries to promising Year 12 students.
The awards ranged in value from $250 to $1500 and totalled $18,275.
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University receives its first bequest
The University of the Sunshine Coast’s first bequest was recently realised in the will of late Sunshine Coast resident Marjorie Harrold.
The $10,000 gift will support Environmental Science at the University.
Mrs Harrold is the late wife of Dr Arthur Harrold, who received an Honorary Doctorate from USC in 1999.
She was passionate about giving back to her community and was generous to a number of organisations in her will.
USC Foundation Executive Officer Andrew Pentland said community gifts and bequests were a major source of support for older universities.
“Mrs Harrold chartered new territory at USC through her bequest, and she left a meaningful legacy for USC students,” he said.
“We are grateful for her thoughtfulness and generosity.”
Inquiries about leaving a bequest to USC can be made in strict confidentiality to Andrew Pentland Tel: +61 7 5459 4418.
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