Go WEST honours high achieving females at awards ceremony

An outstanding academic career dedicated to encouraging girls from rural and remote areas to pursue a career in engineering, science mathematics and technology was acknowledged during the 2010 Best of the WEST awards ceremony this month (October).

USQ Education Lecturer Dr Karen Spence, who coordinates the highly-successful annual Priority Country Area Program Enrichment Camp (PCAP), was one of 12 females awarded for achievements in fields of study traditionally under-represented by women.

Dr Spence, who received a Go WEST Professional/Business Award, said the achievement recognised the collaboration between the Faculty of Education and PCAP, and raised awareness about science, maths and engineering opportunities for women.

'While visiting USQ, the PCAP students are given an insight into careers that are not traditional choices for girls,' Dr Spence said.

'The PCAP enrichment promotes tertiary study in Toowoomba by showcasing different USQ faculties and it encourages pre-service teachers to consider employment in remote or rural communities.'

The awards ceremony is an annual event organised by the USQ Go WEST (Go Women in Engineering, Science and Technology) project team to recognise and celebrate the achievement of outstanding women and girls who are leading in the fields of engineering, science, mathematics and technology.

Professor Shirley Gregor AO, a nationally-renowned academic and expert in the field of Information Systems, encouraged women and girls to pursue their academic and career aspirations during her inspiring keynote address: 'A Female Brain?'

'It is a pleasure to be here and to see outstanding work honoured,' Professor Gregor told the gathering.

'It is a tribute to hard work and perseverance of award winners, and also to their families for their support and encouragement in participating in fields of study that are not traditionally seen as ‘women’s’ fields.'

Go WEST Project Team Member, Dr Shirley Reushle, said it was indeed a pleasure to congratulate the award winners, welcome their families and friends and share in their excitement and success stories.

'The event ran smoothly due to the efforts of the Go WEST team and many ‘behind-the-scenes’ workers, and I would like to thank all who contributed to the afternoon’s success,' Dr Reushle said.

The 2010 Best of the WEST Award winners were:
• Go WEST Secondary School Student Award – Highly Commended: Shannon Elton, Toowoomba State High School.
• Go WEST Secondary School Student Award – Highly Commended: Lauren Whittle, Year 9, Concordia Lutheran College.
• Go WEST Secondary School Student Award: Sarah Coughlan, Year 11, Nanango State High School.
• Go WEST USQ Student Award – Engineering and Surveying and Go WEST USQ Student Award – Community Involvement: Aaditi Dang, USQ Business/Engineering student.
• Go WEST USQ Student Award – Sciences: Kathryn Reardon-Smith, PhD student, USQ.
• Faculty of Sciences Secondary School Award – Mathematics: Janice Kit-Suen Choi, St Ursula’s College.
• Go WEST Professional/Business Award – Engineering and Surveying: Roxane Blackley, Queensland Murray Darling Committee.
• Go WEST Professional/Business Award – Technology: Bronwyn Anderson, Heritage Building Society.
• Go WEST Professional/Business Award - Innovation in Emerging Technologies: Michelle Conkas, GraniteNet Web Administrator.
• Go WEST Professional/Business Award - Access & Equity: Dr Karen Spence, Faculty of Education, USQ.
• Go WEST Professional/Business Award – Research: Yan Li, Faculty of Sciences, USQ.
• Go WEST Professional/Business Award - Vice-Chancellor’s Community Project: Alecia Sutton, Goondiwindi State High School.

For more information on the award winners and the Go WEST project, please visit: www.usq.edu.au/gowest