Awards give students a boost
Growing community involvement in the University of the Sunshine Coast was celebrated when scholarships, bursaries and prizes worth $25,000 were presented to 19 USC students on Wednesday, October 18.
USC Foundation Executive Officer Andrew Pentland said the USC now had about 80 community-funded scholarships, bursaries and prizes, worth about $180,000. Many of these awards were presented at a similar ceremony earlier this year.
Mr Pentland said the number of USC bursaries and scholarships had grown from 5 to 80 in the past six years, with the awards providing not only financial support for students but also boosting their confidence by recognising their academic achievements.
He said the scholarships provided a "win-win-win" situation with students, donors and the University all benefiting.
"We are a young, growing university and people want to be part of that success story,’’ he said.
"If the university is successful, the students are successful and the whole region will benefit.’’
"I’d like to say thank you to the donors and that we don’t take their support for granted. We look at this as a long-term relationship about building excellence.’’
Mr Pentland said awards were based on academic merit or on financial need.
"They can also be given to high-achieving students in specific disciplines, to students in particular equity groups or from geographical regions, to students talented in sport, science, business and the arts, or for postgraduate research," he said.
Another ceremony will be held at the USC on Monday, October 23, at noon when the War Widows Guild of Australia (Qld) Inc Maroochydore Sub Branch presents a bursary for a nursing student.
Award recipients on Wednesday, October 18, were:
- David Wassman - Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Sunshine Coast and Hinterland Prize, presented by June Chamberlain and Arnim Scheer.
- Sarah Simpson - Sunshine Coast Daily Kathleen McArthur Memorial Scholarship, presented by Bill Hoffman
- Samuel Templar - Dillon Folker Stephens Bursary, presented by Gary Dillon
- Susan Brooks, Reginald Connor and Katherine Hoare - Coop Book Shop Textbook Bursary, presented by Anne McDougall
- Gloriamarie McIntosh - Lambert Innovation Prize, presented by Bruce and Dorothy Lambert
- Jacquelyn Robinson - Catherine King Bursary, presented by USC Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill
- Kylee Knight - Darcy and Heather Stevens Rural Bursary, presented by Darcy and Heather Stevens
- Ashleigh Gray - Zonta Club of Caloundra Indigenous Bursary, presented by Marilyn Holness, Barbara White and Joan Fitzgerald
- Sarah Cooney - Judy Henzell Bursary, presented by a Zonta Club representative
- Roslyn Clapperton - Sunshine Coast Sports Medicine Clinic Bursary, presented by Dr June Canavan
- Joanna Kristoffersen - Keith & Rebecca Grisman Bursary, presented by Keith & Rebecca Grisman
- Ellen Danzey and Alyce Houley - Millennium Masonic Lodge Bursaries, presented by Colin Boughton and Peter Hansen
- Hayden Morley, Sheree Thompson and Christa Flick - Maroochy Shire Achievers Foundation Scholarships, presented by Kath Parry
- Caille Andersen - Caloundra RSL Scholarship, presented by Peter Campbell