Six outstanding QUT students have received 2016 Go Further Indigenous Tertiary Scholarships, sponsored by Arrow Energy, which are each worth up to $10,000 a year.
The students were recently presented with their scholarships, which will aid them with their studies and reduce the financial strain of university.
The six recipients are:
- Joeanne Allen (Bachelor of Creative Industries)
- Shekira Cardona (Bachelor of Business / Bachelor Laws)
- Corey Curran (Bachelor of Justice / Bachelor of Laws)
- Jed Fraser (Bachelor of Exercise and Movement Science)
- Joshua Loyd (Bachelor of Engineering)
- Heidi Noon (Bachelor of Human Services)
The director of QUT’s Oodgeroo Unit, Professor Anita Lee Hong, commended the partnership between QUT and Arrow Energy that enabled the awards.
“These scholarships provide an immense relief of pressure on these students and the ongoing partnership and support of Arrow Energy has been fantastic,” Professor Lee Hong said.
“Education is the keystone to success for our community and for students to be given the opportunity to focus wholly on their studies and absorb the support available at this important stage of their careers is second to none.”
Award recipient Joeanne Allen, who is studying creative industries at QUT, agreed.
“The Arrow Energy Scholarship cleared so much stress for me this semester,” she said.
“Lots of things pile up that generally stem from some form of financial strain, and university is hard enough without these additional external forces pulling you in other directions.”
Arrow Energy has supported QUT students – as well as other Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students – with the Go Further Indigenous Tertiary Scholarships since 2012.
“We believe increasing participation in higher education is one of the key factors in closing the gap and these scholarships are part of that effort,” Arrow Energy Vice President External Relations & Tenure Management Leisa Elder said.
“The scholarships are worth up to $10,000 a year for each person’s course and have been set up to provide access to higher education for Traditional Owner groups across Queensland.”
The scholarships are a complete educational package and also include mentoring, tutoring and peer network groups so students have the support to achieve their goals.
“I’d like to congratulate the newest members of the Arrow Energy Indigenous University Scholarships program,” Ms Elder said. “These students are determined to make a difference in their future careers and I’m proud we can support them along the way.”
Release date: Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, media@qut.edu.au
Photo: QUT and Arrow Energy's 2016 Go Further Indigenous Tertiary Scholarship recipients (left to right): Corey Curran, Joeanne Allen, Shekira Cardona, Joshua Loyd and Jed Fraser.
