By KATIE DE VERTEUIL
NOOSA’S Erin McLaren is one of four high school students starting at the University of the Sunshine Coast this semester to have received USC’s inaugural Thompson Excellence Scholarships, each to the value of $32,000. These prestigious scholarships, funded through a generous $5 million gift to the university by Roy and Nola Thompson last year, were presented at USC’s 2015 Semester One Scholarships Presentation Ceremony recently.
The 17-year-old graduated from Sunshine Beach State High School last year with an OP1 and has commenced a combined Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business.
With a five-year degree ahead of her, Erin said she was extremely grateful for the scholarship which would ensure that she was able to concentrate fully on her studies without the worry of earning enough money to maintain herself.
“It really takes the stress out of uni life as I won’t have to be worrying if I have enough money to fill up my car with petrol or buy the weekly groceries, those small yet significant dilemmas that so many uni students face,” Erin said.
“It is so generous of the Thompsons and it really helps to put USC, which is often an underrated university, on the map.”
The Thompsons’ $5 million dollar gift was matched dollar-for-dollar by USC to fund construction of the university’s first multi-level carpark, which is almost complete.
As well as keeping USC ahead of demand for parking bays as it continues to grow, revenues raised from the carpark’s operation in the university’s regulated parking zone will fund the Thompson Excellence Scholarships scheme for decades to come.
Mr Thompson said his donation to USC was aimed at establishing something that would support Sunshine Coast students over many years into the future.
“Scholarships to keep bright kids on the Coast and to help those struggling to afford to go to university, funded by a new carpark, seemed like a good way to do this,” Mr Thomson said.
USC’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Hill said USC and its students were fortunate to have the support of Roy and Nola Thompson.
“Hundreds of students will benefit from these scholarships over the years ahead, giving them the opportunity to get degrees and pursue the careers they want,” he said.
The other recipients of the scholarship are Brendan Boyd of James Nash State High School who achieved an OP1 and is starting a Bachelor of Biomedical Science;Tayla Dokonal of Unity College who scored an OP2 and is enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) and Naomi Joyce of Suncoast Christian College who achieved an OP1 and is studying a combined Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and Bachelor of Arts.
