Nursing student wins Zonta Bursary

Deepa Basnet, a USQ Nursing student from Nepal, has won a bursary from the Zonta Club of Toowoomba Garden City.

Zonta is an international organisation of professional women committed to advancing the status of women.

The bursary gives Deepa $1000 credit at the USQ Bookshop to be used as a payment on her course fees.

The bursary was open to female international students experiencing financial hardship, and in at least their second year on campus.

Counsellor (International Students) in Student Services Rachael Cleary, who assisted the Zonta Club in managing the promotion of the bursary to students and interviewed applicants, said that there were nearly 20 students who had applied.

'Student Services received 18 applications for the Zonta USQ Bursary Scholarship for 2009,' she said.

Professor Ronel Erwee, Chair, United Nations Committee, Zonta Garden City Club added that Deepa was very deserving of the bursary.

'Deepa, who is in her third year of a Bachelor of Nursing degree, has been recognised for her achievements of academic excellence in her home country of Nepal and has attained a G.P.A of 6.00 at USQ.'

With a passion for nursing and aspirations of using the knowledge and experience she gains in studying and working in Australia, Deepa will return to Nepal to assist in the implementation of advancements in nursing in rural regions in her home country upon completion of her degree.

Deepa was presented with the bursary at a dinner meeting of Zonta on 21 April.

Media Contact:  Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559