Eight school leavers who have enrolled to study at USC’s Moreton Bay campus this semester have become the first recipients of the Moreton Bay Region Equity Scholarships.

These scholarships, worth $8,000 for each year of study, were awarded by Acting Moreton Bay Region Mayor Mike Charlton at a special ceremony hosted by the Council and USC at North Lakes Library on Thursday 6 February.

The recipients are Kaitlyn Grobbelaar, Noah Abarca and Edward Hay of Genesis Christian College, Chantelle Brooks and Zac Holland of Deception Bay State High School, Jacob Funnell of Bray Park State High School, Belinda Mardan of North Lakes State College, and Graceyn Turner of St Benedict’s College.

They have enrolled in degrees ranging from Accounting, Animal Ecology and Arts to Education, Environmental Science and Psychology.

Moreton Bay Regional Council has established a $750,000 scholarships fund to assist students with demonstrated financial need and the academic potential to achieve their education and career goals.

Beneficiaries can receive a total payment of $32,000 for a single degree over four years, or $40,000 for a dual degree over five years.

Councillor Charlton said the Council was committed to improving the region’s tertiary participation rate by creating education opportunities for local residents and supporting the leaders of tomorrow to study at USC Moreton Bay.

“Today is history in the making,” he said at the scholarship presentation ceremony. “It is the first time Council has been able to award scholarships to local students to attend a local full-service university.

“These eight outstanding scholarship recipients are the faces of change as we look to change our region’s future through better educational outcomes, better job opportunities, and better economic potential.

“Best of all they come from right across our region and I certainly hope that these local young people will go on to become local leaders in our community after graduating from their local uni.”

USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill praised Moreton Bay Regional Council for funding scholarships that will have a profound positive impact on the eight recipients, who were selected by a panel of experts from USC based on established criteria.

“These scholarships are part of our joint commitment with the council to improve the region’s participation in tertiary education and support the leaders of tomorrow who are choosing to study at USC Moreton Bay,” Professor Hill said.

“If a student has the potential and the drive to achieve their education and career goals, then a scholarship can help them get there by covering expenses such as course costs, books, housing, food, a laptop and transport.

“We’re looking forward to continue offering these generous scholarships to new USC Moreton Bay students into the future.”

— Terry Walsh