Two and a half years ago, Samantha Whittaker began teaching herself Russian with the help of a dictionary, verb books and some audio CDs.
“I have always wanted to learn Russian but I thought studying the language was an impossible dream,” Ms Whittaker said.
After enrolling at UQ and succeeding in her studies, Ms Whittaker was last week named the proud recipient of the The University of Queensland and The Queensland Government Scholarship in Russian Language and Culture, sharing the award with fellow student Nicholas Gattas.
After graduating, Ms Whittaker hopes to live in Russia, embarking on a career in adult education and the teaching of Russian and English.
“Studying Russian at UQ is one of the greatest experiences in my life, and is genuinely a dream come true,” she said.
Mr Gattas, a dual degree Bachelor of Arts/Medicine student, is hoping to experience the language first hand and intends to work in a Russian hospital as part of his UQ surgical placement before eventually undertaking postgraduate study in Russian.
“I have always admired the Russian culture, in particular the strong tradition of combining arts with medicine, as seen in figures such as Chekhov, Bulgakov and Borodin,” Mr Gattas said.
The students accepted their scholarships in front of a UQ audience, and via video link, to an audience which included Her Excellency the Australian Ambassador to Russia, Ms Margaret Twomey, at Lomonosov Moscow State University.
Presenting the awards was General Manager of Trade Queensland, Rob Whiddon.
“In 2006, The University of Queensland and The Queensland Government forged a Smart State link with Russia by establishing the state’s first scholarship for a university student of the Russian language,” Mr Whiddon said.
“There is now the potential to develop much closer education and research ties with Russia. Queensland needs more graduates who not only speak Russian, but who also understand Russian culture and society.”
Worth $11250, the scholarship may be granted to domestic students with prior academic achievement, and is available to those in the last two years of the Bachelor of Arts program with a major in Russian.
UQ is the only university in Queensland that teaches the Russian language and one of only three in Australia that offers a full honours program in the discipline.
More information about UQ’s scholarships is available at www.uq.edu.au/study/scholarships
Media: Dania Lawrence (d.lawrence@uq.edu.au) or Tara Young at UQ Arts (07 3365 3072, tara.young@uq.edu.au)
