A $30,000 scholarship aimed at supporting regional university students has opened for applications.
The QCoal Foundation Scholarship provides a James Cook University (JCU) student with $10,000 each year for three years to help offset the cost of pursuing higher education.
Established in 2015, the scholarship aims to support students who intend to commence study at JCU, with preference given to those from regional and remote communities in Queensland.
By providing a pathway to tertiary education that helps relieve the financial stress many students face when they are forced to relocate to attend university, QCoal Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Bhatia said the QCoal Foundation was proud to support students from regional and remote Queensland.
“The challenges facing many students who need to leave their regional and remote Queensland communities to attend University have not diminished over the years, so we are pleased to again be providing this scholarship opportunity,” she said.
Access to student mentors supports a positive transition to uni
2023 Scholarship recipient Jamie Ahearn said the scholarship had helped him thrive within the university environment as a first-year Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management (BESM) student.
“Receiving this scholarship has provided valuable networking and mentorship opportunities within the JCU community, which has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally,” he said.
“One key aspect of my time so far at JCU that I have benefitted from would be the student mentor program. I really appreciated having an experienced student to chat to about university life. It made the transition into full-time study a lot easier.”
Since the first scholarship was awarded in 2016, the QCoal Foundation acknowledges a growing cohort of students from regional and remote Queensland and is pleased to continue to partner with JCU.
“Over the past eight years scholarship recipients have studied Medicine, Geology, Vet Science, Environmental Science, Engineering and Dentistry. During that time students have completed work placements as part of those studies and, for some, have taken on roles in regional and remote medical facilities and on mine sites,” Ms Bhatia told The Bursar. “We hear from past recipients that this time spent working in those communities is a valuable experience for both students and local communities.”
Sharing professional knowledge
Mr Ahearn encouraged school leavers interested in applying for the scholarship to give it a go and “believe in yourself”.
“Sometimes the process of gathering referees and writing application letters can be daunting, so it’s important to plan your application out ahead of time so that you’re ready to submit before they close,” he said.
Once he completes his own studies at JCU, Mr Ahearn said he is keen to work in regional areas, such as his hometown of Mt Isa, and give back to his local community.
“I’d love to be able to pass on my professional knowledge to those just starting in the field of environmental science,” he said.
