Scholarship and bursary recipients recognised at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Now in its second year, the program is one of many ways in which Queensland Hydro is building local talent.
Scholarship and bursary recipients from Queensland Hydro’s partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) were celebrated in July 2024 with a morning tea at the Sunshine Coast campus.
Project Director Leah McKenzie was on hand with Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global and Engagement) Alex Elibank Murray and Professor Stuart Parsons, Dean of the School of Science, Technology and Engineering, to present the students with certificates and highlight the importance of locally-grown talent on a project like our proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro Project.
“We’re all about bringing local benefits to our communities and growing local talent,” Leah said.
“At the moment, cost of living places significant pressure on our young people. These scholarships are designed to relieve some of that pressure.”
The Queensland Hydro Scholarship also offers scholarship recipients the opportunity to work at Queensland Hydro part-time, gaining real-world experience while getting paid.
“As a civil engineer myself, I know how difficult it is to go through your degree and how important it is to get that job-ready experience that only comes from working in industry,” Leah said.
Alyssa Mantarro was working three jobs when she applied for the Queensland Hydro Scholarship in 2023. She said the funding helped her focus on her studies, maintaining her high GPA. She now works for Queensland Hydro part-time, as an undergraduate engineer on the Borumba Pumped Hydro Project.
Inspirational stories on show
This year’s scholarship recipients, Blake Thomasson and Logan Arnold, were both in attendance to accept their certificates.
Blake suffered a significant brain injury from a stroke in his teen years, which left him partially paralysed. He spent years learning how to walk again and was told he’d never be able to attend university. He’s now excelling at his course at UniSC.
“Through the Queensland Hydro Scholarship program I’ve been able to access two lots of $5,000,” Blake said.
“I’m now looking forward to where my career is going to go next. Even though I was told I can’t do uni [because] I’ve had a brain injury, I don’t like being told no, so I’m going to do it and here I am. I’m studying engineering.”
About the Queensland Hydro Scholarship
Two $10,000 merit-based scholarships are available annually to eligible, full-time second-year engineering students enrolled at the UniSC Sunshine Coast campus. Priority for the scholarships are given to students who reside in the Borumba local community. Queensland Hydro also offers four equity-based bursaries annually of $2,500 each.
Now in its second year, the program is one of many ways in which Queensland Hydro is building local talent to deliver the proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro Project. Two local high schools, Gympie State High School and James Nash State High School, also receive scholarship funding from Queensland Hydro.
Altogether, more than $380,000 has been committed to education and training initiatives across Queensland by Queensland Hydro. Read more about those initiatives here.
The third round for the Scholarships is due to open later this year. UniSC students should contact the university directly for more information.
About the Borumba Project
The proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro Project is a 2,000 MW pumped hydro energy storage facility located at Lake Borumba, near Imbil, west of the Sunshine Coast.
The proposed Project is currently undertaking early works on site, including geotechnical investigations on previously cleared land and local road upgrades. Pending all necessary regulatory approvals, the Project is targeting first power in 2030.
Read more about the Project here.
First published 13 August 2024.