Four prestigious scholarships have been awarded to UQ engineering students in a bid to reward and encourage outstanding scholars who are embarking on a career in the resources sector.
The 2009 Queensland Resources Council (QRC) scholarships have been offered in combination with UQ’s Excellence Scholarship scheme, which together will provide up to $40,000 for each successful student over the duration of their engineering degree.
The QRC scholarships were awarded to first-year students Justin Tang and Daniel Kiyuna and former Mackay-based students Jack Gaynor and Adam Irelandes at a function attended by industry and University representatives at Customs House on May 21.
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology, Professor Graham Schaffer, said the scholarships were awarded to students who completed their secondary studies with outstanding academic results and who demonstrated leadership qualities.
“The University is very pleased to work with the QRC to encourage and support talented students who are pursuing careers in engineering and the physical sciences and who will contribute to the resources sector in the future,” Professor Schaffer said.
QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche said the QRC was proud to assist such high-quality students at the starting point of their careers.
“The students themselves tell us that the scholarships offer so much more than just money,” Mr Roche said.
“They bring with them opportunities to create lasting relationships with people in resources sector companies and build a profile within the sector from their very first year at university.”
The QRC is the peak representative body for minerals and energy sector companies in Queensland and was the first industry partner to join the UQ Deans Excellence Scholarships program in 2008.
Through their existing scholarships, the QRC has an association with 17 talented undergraduate engineering and science students from across Queensland who act as ambassadors for the resources sector.
Media: Kim Jensen at UQ (07 3365 1107, k.jensen@uq.edu.au) or Caroline Morrissey from QRC (07 3295 9560, carolinem@qrc.org.au)
