Science student receives Daily scholarship
University of the Sunshine Coast Environmental Science student Charma Minter, 18, today received a welcome financial boost from the Sunshine Coast Daily.
The Daily’s Editorial Manager Andy Kippen presented Charma with the $3,500 Sunshine Coast Daily Kathleen McArthur Memorial Scholarship which will help the former Burnside State High School student cover the cost of her study expenses.
Mr Kippen said Kathleen McArthur — who was selected by the Sunshine Coast Daily as the “Sunshine Coast Citizen of the Century” in 2002 — had ensured the region retained many of its natural attractions.
“She did a lot of great work and was obviously an inspiration to many,” Mr Kippen said. “She was the Coast’s original environmentalist.”
Kathleen, who died in 2000 at the age of 84, was a conservationist, artist, author, educator and activitist. She helped found the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland in 1962 and fought to preserve what is now the Cooloola National Park.
This is the fifth year that the Daily has presented the scholarship to support USC students with an interest in and commitment to the environment.
Charma, who has just completed her first year of a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) degree, said the Daily’s scholarship would enable her to focus more intently on her studies.
“It will relieve a bit of the financial pressure and I won’t have to do as many hours work to cover my study expenses,” she said.
USC Foundation Executive Officer Andrew Pentland thanked the Daily for its ongoing support and said the scholarship would ensure Kathleen McArthur’s legacy of environmental work would live on.
Mr Pentland said USC now had about 85 community-funded scholarships, bursaries and prizes, worth about $190,000. Many of these awards were presented at ceremonies earlier this year.
— Terry Walsh