USQ students receive almost $200,000 in scholarships

Nearly $200,000 in scholarships will be awarded to more than 90 USQ students at the Scholarship Awards Ceremony tomorrow night.

The first recipient of USQ's newest and most prestigious bursary, the Don and Barbara Stevens Scholarship, will be local engineering student Jake Salomon.

Jake Salomon's passion for all things mechanical has helped him secure the scholarship which was established in honour of former USQ Chancellor Don Stevens and wife Barbara, and is awarded to a first year undergraduate student who displays both academic excellence and is actively involved in the community.

The St Joseph's Toowoomba student achieved an outstanding OP score and had completed a TAFE certificate in Fitting and Turning while at school.

'I am always doing something mechanical at home and I have a keen interest in mechanics.

'I didn't expect to get this scholarship but I was hoping to get something though.'

Recipients of the Don and Barbara Stevens Scholarship will be awarded $5,000 per year of their academic study.

Organiser of the scholarship presentation, Ken Gideon, said both University and local support has helped fund the scholarship.

'The generous bursary has been sponsored by a number of on campus departments including the Vice-Chancellor's Office, The USQ Corporate Club and Kumbari.

'We would also like to thank the 15 local individual donors who have contributed almost $16,000 to the fund.'

Students are required to submit a 500 word application and gain a principals recommendation. Students short listed are then interviewed.

The financial support offered by the scholarship aims to support students while gaining tertiary qualifications.

Now three weeks into his first semester at University, Jake said the money would almost pay for his whole course.

'I don't have to worry about money now. If I didn't get a scholarship this year I thought I might have to defer, but I didn't have to. It's a real help.

'I had heard good things about the Uni, people said it was just as good as Brisbane. I wanted to stay in Toowoomba and live at home so the scholarship has allowed me to.'

What: USQ Scholarship Awards Ceremony

When: 6:30pm for 7:00pm

Where: Allison Dickson Lecture Theatre, USQ Toowomba

Media Contact: Jane Urquart, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559