Scholarships awarded to first-year university students

(posted 09.03.10)

The hard work put in by 2009 Year 12 students has not only paid off in outstanding OP results but has also brought rewards to a number of Flinders graduates who have been awarded university scholarships.

University of the Sunshine Coast Scholarships

Starting university was extra special for 55 talented students at the University of the Sunshine Coast last month, including Matthew Flinders Anglican College 2009 graduate Samara Kerr.

Samara, who received her first choice to study a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business (Design and Marketing) at USC, was among the first-year students from 38 different high schools to receive scholarships ranging in value from $3500 to $12,000 and totalling $360,000.

USC held its first Undergraduate Scholarships Presentation Ceremony during Orientation Week on February 15 with six Academic Excellence Scholarships awarded, valued at $12,000 each. These scholarships are provided annually through donations by Sir Clem and Lady Renouf, Tim Fairfax AM, and other donors.

Thirteen other major scholarships have been provided by various businesses and community organisations, and the University presented  – for the first time – 36 Vice-Chancellor’s Merit scholarships, valued at $6000, of which Samara was a recipient.

USC Foundation Executive Officer Andrew Pentland said the scholarship program had come about largely through community support, and it was having a remarkable effect.

“These scholarships do not only provide financial support to students, they provide recognition of outstanding achievement and encouragement and moral support,” he said.

“As universities have become more proactive in recruiting students, they have been offering these types of scholarships. It’s important that USC is able to compete in this way by providing scholarships that can enable our top students to stay on the Coast to study.”

Most of the recipients of the USC scholarships come from the Sunshine Coast, with others from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Darling Downs, Kilcoy, Esk, Bundaberg, Maryborough and Mackay, and interstate from New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

UQ Excellence Scholarships

Joint 2009 Flinders Dux winners Eloise Norman and Alexandra Hand both achieved OP1s and both were worthy recipients of the University of Queensland Excellence Scholarships.
 
Valued at $6,000 per year for up to four years, these scholarships are awarded to OP 1 (or equivalent) applicants.  Exceptional leadership achievements and/or significant community service is also considered in the selection process.

Eloise is studying Engineering and Alexandra is studying Medicine, and both are living on campus at the university colleges.

QUT Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships

OP 2 student Phoebe Davidson has been awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship from the Queensland University of Technology.  Two hundred scholarships are awarded annually to OP 1 and 2 students in the $2.3 million Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Program.

In addition to the financial support, the Program allows students to make the most of the QUT experience by excelling in fields of studies, and through extra development opportunities, to build  leadership skills and professional networks.

Phoebe is studying a joint degree of Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Mathematics.

Bond University Collegiate Captain Scholarships
 
2009 College Captain Sally Morris, who is studying a Bachelor of Communication at Bond University on the Gold Coast, is the recipient of a Collegiate Captain Scholarship.

Each year, Bond University awards Collegiate Captain Scholarships to the Year 12 School Captains enrolled in a Bond University Collegiate school. Matthew Flinders Anglican College is a partnership school with Bond University. These leadership scholarships are awarded in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by these students to their school communities and cover 50% tuition.

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