University of Queensland (UQ) Gatton student Anna Hill is proving a city upbringing is no hurdle to striking out on a successful career in the exciting world of international agribusiness.
The 21-year-old from Brisbane has just been awarded UQ`s prestigious 2005 Queensland Cotton International Student Exchange Scholarship.
The scholarship means the third-year dual-degree (Bachelor of Agribusiness/Bachelor of Applied Science) student will embark on a six-month exchange program at Texas A&M University, one of the world`s leading agribusiness universities.
A high achieving student with a keen interest in music and swimming, Ms Hill also impressed scholarship judges with her willingness to take on a challenge to further her learning.
That commitment saw Ms Hill take a "gap year" job as a station hand on a two-million acre cattle station in one of the most remote areas of Australia and now sees her packing her bags for the United States.
Announcing the award, UQ Agribusiness program coordinator Associate Professor Tony Dunne, said it was both a fitting recognition of Ms Hill`s efforts so far and a launching pad for what promised to be a successful career in international agribusiness.
"To be selected to study at one of the top agribusiness universities in the United States is a tremendous achievement that will provide Anna a truly wonderful experience," Associate Professor Dunne said.
"She is a great student who particularly impressed the judges, not just with her academic achievements, but also with her willingness to step outside her comfort zone and pursue her goals. Anna has demonstrated that background is no barrier to success in agriculture and she will be a great ambassador for UQ."
On graduating from high school, Ms Hill chose a different career path to most of her class mates. After successfully enrolling at UQ Gatton, she deferred her studies for 12 months and took a job as a station hand, working for Arrabury Pastoral Company on its Mt Leonard station at Haddon Corner in the far southwest of Queensland and then at Lotus Vale station, near Normanton in the Gulf country.
With a lot of hard work and priceless experience under her belt, she returned to UQ Gatton in 2003 to pursue her ambition for a career in Australia`s ever-growing food and fibre industry, commencing a dual degree in Agribusiness and Applied Science.
Now in her third year of the program, Ms Hill will complement her overseas studies with valuable work experience with Queensland Cotton in its Brisbane head office and US office in Lubbock, Texas.
Sponsor of the scholarship for the last five years, Queensland Cotton is Australia`s oldest cotton ginning and marketing organisation and one of the top 10 cotton companies in the world with extensive operations throughout Australia and the western United States.
"I`m thrilled to win this scholarship and want to thank Queensland Cotton and UQ for the opportunity this has presented me," Ms Hill said.
"It`s a great privilege to be provided their support and the chance to study at an institution with the reputation of Texas A&M."
Associate Professor Dunne said the International Student Exchange Scholarship was one of a number of opportunities available to UQ Gatton students to study and work abroad.
"Programs like the Queensland Cotton International Student Exchange Scholarship are not only an opportunity for students to develop academically, but also personally. The experience and insight gained from living and working in another country is invaluable," he said.
"We`re very appreciative of Queensland Cotton`s support for this program and the students who have been privileged to benefit from it over the last five years. We look forward to continuing the partnership between Queensland Cotton and UQ."
Media: For more information contact Brad Henderson, Marketing Coordinator, Faculty of NRAVS (telephone 07 5460 1229 or 0409 265 587).
A high resolution photo of Anna Hill and Bob Dall’Alba, General Manager, Marketing, Queensland Cotton is available by contacting Brad Henderson.
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