Nurturing achievement

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Tags: Andrew Brice, centenary-edition, equity, fundraising, scholarships

Benefactors Andrew and Jennifer Brice believe that a university education should be a realistic dream for all children in Queensland.

Young Achiever and Forest Lake State High School Student Trent Bosgra with his mother Gwen Blom

This sense of community responsibility is what motivated Mr Brice, co-founder of online accommodation website Wotif.com, to approach UQ with an idea of a scholarship program that would make higher education more accessible for disadvantaged students.

The focus of the program is to build the tertiary aspirations of secondary school students who are disadvantaged through financial hardship, rural isolation, and those identifying as Indigenous or the first in their family to attend university.

“I’m not worried about the wealthy kids or the exceptionally intelligent kids, I know they will be fine. I want to offer an opportunity to children who, due to some form of disadvantage, may not have considered a tertiary education as a legitimate option,” Mr Brice said.

Director of UQ’s Office of Prospective Students and Scholarships Margaret Fairman said this year the scheme would help an inaugural cohort of 85 students from 20 schools in the Moreton, Darling Downs and South West Queensland regions to complete Years 11 and 12.

“The overall focus of the program will be to nurture and develop these young people and provide them with opportunities for personal growth and social and academic enrichment,” she said.

The Young Achievers will receive significant scholarship support in Years 11 and 12, student and industry mentoring, have opportunities to participate in aspiration-building experiences and be guaranteed a place at UQ upon completion of high school. Students taking up their place at UQ will receive a scholarship valued at $6000 a year for up to four years.

Aligning with the motivations of the benefactors, developing a sense of civic responsibility among participants is also an important goal of the program. On transitioning to UQ, the Young Achievers will be encouraged to assist others by serving as mentors for future students in their regions.

“If I can see just one child take this opportunity and reach their potential, then it will all have been worth it,” Mr Brice said.

“It’s a chance to inspire and motivate young Australians to take every chance they get in life to be their best.”

For further information, visit www.uq.edu.au/wotifachievers/

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