With O-Week celebrations kicking off this week, St Lucia's Sook Kuan Sin has started her first days as an economics student at The University of Queensland with a School of Economics Centenary Scholarship under her belt.
The prestigious scholarship is awarded annually to a high-achieving international student applying for the Bachelor of Economics program at UQ.
The scholarship will cover Ms Sin's tuition fees and living allowances in St Lucia (up to $20,000 per year), and also includes a one off book allowance of up to $500 and a return economy airfare to Malaysia.
Ms Sin, who says her dream is to eventually “help contribute to economic development” in her home country, is originally from the island of Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
She hopes to be an economist and has had a strong interest in the field from early on.
“I want to help the Malaysian Government overcome the many economic and social challenges Malaysia is currently facing, so that one day it can become a self-sufficient industrialised country,” Ms Sin said.
“When I found out I was the recipient of a generous scholarship that allowed me to pursue my economics degree at a prestigious institution such as UQ, I was ecstatic.
“Studying at UQ would have been out of my reach, had it not been for the generous Centenary Scholarship. I am so grateful to the UQ School of Economics for making my dream a reality.”
Aside from her academic pursuits, Ms Sin spent much of her spare time as a high school student volunteering in the Penang Adventist Hospital as a pharmacy assistant, and helping out her local church and nursing home.
“This is my first trip to Australia and I am really excited about the many new experiences I am about to enjoy as a student here,” Ms Sin said.
“I’m looking forward to delving into the world of Economics, making new friends with students from diverse backgrounds and volunteering with student societies.”
The Centenary Scholarship attracts applications from very high-achieving students from around the world.
For more information visit http://www.uq.edu.au/economics/centenary-scholarship
Media: Louise West 07 3365 4482 or louise.west@uq.edu.au
