Heritage Bank Len Ludgate Scholarship in Information Technology

In 2012, USQ will offer one Heritage Bank Len Ludgate Scholarship in Information Technology to an undergraduate student continuing full-time, on-campus study at USQ Toowoomba Campus. The Scholarship is awarded in the first Semester to a student pursuing a Business or Science degree majoring in Information Technology.

Len Ludgate was a long-serving Director and Chairman of the Darling Downs Building Society in the years leading-up to the merger with Toowoomba Permanent Building Society that created Heritage Building Society in 1981. Mr Ludgate was Chairman of Darling Downs Building Society at the time of the merger and elected to step aside and sit as a Director of the new entity rather than seek the role of Chairman. The scholarship recognises his contribution to the Heritage over many years and his role in enabling the merger to take place.

Heritage’s scholarship program at USQ continues a long association between the two organisations. It is one of many ways that Heritage supports the communities in which we operate. These scholarships enhance the opportunities for young people from the region to pursue academic excellence without having to move elsewhere. Scholarships are offered in four areas – HR, Commerce, IT and Marketing – reflecting key skills areas that Heritage is interested in developing. Heritage scholarships not only give financial assistance to students, but also offer the chance to do work experience at the Heritage. This provides both academic and real-world training for students, and enhances their life experience and their job-readiness. The scholarship program can identify potential future employees for Heritage however, in giving added incentives for students to choose USQ, Heritage is also supporting the prosperity of the community overall. USQ is a major contributor to the vitality and prosperity of the region. A vibrant USQ is good for the whole region, not only for the economic stimulus that the university provides, but in the contribution it makes to the skills and capacity of the region’s workforce. The scholarship partnership between Heritage and USQ delivers fantastic opportunities for students as well as a continuing benefit to the entire region. It’s just another way that Heritage puts People first.

Scholarship value

The student who is awarded the Scholarship will receive a maximum value of $4,000 for the year. In addition, the successful applicant may be offered professional work experience with Heritage Bank, as mutually arranged.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
be studying full-time, on-campus at USQ Toowoomba
be continuing a Bachelor degree in Business or Science majoring in Information Technology
must have completed a minimum of 8 university courses (approximately 1 year of the relevant degree completed)

Conditions

Applications must be received by the closing date and in writing on the USQ application form provided
Maximum of six (6) short-listed applicants
The duration of the Scholarship is for one year
Scholarships recipients may be asked to participate, for not more than 20 hours, in e year of receipt of their scholarship, in assisting to promote USQ as required
Recipients may be asked to participate in focus group research
The Scholarship will be forfeited if, during the Scholarship period, the recipient:
- changes their mode of study from on-campus to external or full-time to part-time study, unless exceptional circumstances prevent full-time study
- defers their program of study
- withdraws from study at USQ
- changes their program outside of Information Technology
- fails to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 5.5
Scholarships are not transferable to other students in any circumstances;
One Scholarship will be awarded each year to the applicant deemed most deserving by the Scholarship selection panel. The decision of the panel is final
Heritage Bank and USQ reserve the right to not award the Scholarship in a given year
Scholarship recipients may be asked to participate in work experience as mutually agreed upon between Heritage Bank and the Scholarship recipient within the year of the Scholarship.

Payment

It is the scholarship recipient's responsibility to open a Heritage Bank Account and advise the Scholarships Office of Student Services of their account details
The scholarship will be paid directly to the recipient into a Heritage Bank Account as a stipend of $2,000 per semester after the Census date (the last date to drop courses for each semester)
Payment of the second instalment will be subject to satisfactory progress in the recipient’s study program. In this case, recipients may be required to show cause for why the scholarship should not be cancelled.

Selection criteria

Applicants must:

submit a personal statement outlining:
- why they chose to study Information Technology at USQ
- their interest in contributing to the business community
demonstrate involvement in community service activities
demonstrate high academic achievements recognised by a current GPA of at least 5.5
meet the eligibility requirements outlined above.

Applications

To apply for this Scholarship you must complete the USQ Continuing Students Scholarship Application Form (PDF* 83KB), and forward the application and all supporting documents to:

Private and Confidential
The Scholarships Officer
Student Services
University of Southern Queensland
West Street
Toowoomba QLD 4350.

Applicants may be required for an interview and are asked to maintain up-to-date USQ Personal Details via UConnect. Successful applicants will be advised by mail.

Closing date

Applications for this Scholarship must be received by 5.00pm Friday 16 March 2012 for Semester 1, 2012.

Further information

Faculty of Business
Phone: +61 7 4631 1177
Email: studybus@usq.edu.au

*This file is in Portable Document Format (PDF) which requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. A free copy of Acrobat Reader may be obtained from Adobe. Users who are unable to access information in PDF should contact Customer Relationship Management Centre, telephone 1800 269 500 to obtain this information in an alternative format.