While the temperature may have dropped in the last few days, hundreds of residents living on campus at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Residential Colleges received a warm welcome at the annual Inauguration Dinner last night (April 27).
University of Southern Queensland Director (Student Life) Peter Munster said it was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the new and returning residents who have chosen to live on campus while they complete their university studies.
“The Inauguration Dinner is always a highlight of our calendar and gives us a chance to acknowledge the amazing achievements of our residents,” Mr Munster said.
Throughout the evening a number of awards were presented including the University’s Residential Colleges Research Prize that was awarded to University of Southern Queensland Master of Science (Agricultural Science) student Aline dos Passos Silva for her outstanding achievements.
Miss dos Passos Silva said her research, as part of the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Agricultural Engineering, had been a fantastic opportunity to both extensively understand theory, and also be involved in field trials where she applied her new knowledge in real conditions.
“During my program I could explore different areas of research, which I am highly interested in such as Viticulture and Oenology as well as resources management and sustainable practices,” Miss dos Passos Silva said.
The next project Miss dos Passos Silva will be involved in consists of investigating fertiliser alternatives.
“This is a complex study with broad collaboration nationally and internationally, which will give me the chance to be in contact with a variety of industry stakeholders and progress in my research career,” she said.
Originally from São Paulo in Brazil, Miss dos Passos Silva said it was great to see people from so many different countries living on campus this year and she enjoyed being able to help other international students through her Resident Advisor (RA) leadership position.
“I am passionate about learning new cultures and being in this environment is enriching, and it’s been very pleasant to have the opportunity to be an RA in a diverse community,” she said.
“Working as an RA involves providing support and inspiration, particularly to other international students as they can relate to my experience in how I went through the university challenges of my first year while managing the fact of being far from my family members.”
The University of Southern Queensland Residential Colleges is home to more than 340 students and provides an engaging environment to help students achieve both their academic and personal goals.
