63 students to share $258,000 worth of scholarships in 2001

63 students, most of them from the NSW North Coast, have been awarded Academic and Residential Scholarships to study at Southern Cross University in 2001. Certification of the Scholarships, which have a total value of $258,000, will be presented to the students at a ceremony hosted by SCU's Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Rickard, on Monday, 19 March at 10.00 am.

The awards ceremony at the University's Invercauld Conference Centre will be attended by the recent school-leaver winners of the Vice-Chancellor's and the Industry scholarships as well as present undergraduates holding continuing scholarships.

Also in attendance will be 24 of the 30 winners of SCU Residential Scholarships valued at $3,000 each. The Scholarships cover accommodation costs for the full academic year at the University's Richmond and Wilson's Colleges in Lismore.

Guests at the ceremony will include senior academic staff from SCU, regional High School Principals, Careers Advisers, industry sponsors and the scholarship winners' parents and friends.

"This is the seventh year of the University's Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme and the third in which our Residential Scholarships have been offered," Professor Rickard said. "The scheme is designed to attract students with the potential to achieve at the highest level, with preference given, where possible, to graduates from regional high schools.

"We recognise the need to retain the best students from the region and are committed to providing them with the opportunity to study at Southern Cross and to benefit from the support offered locally by family and friends," he added.

Professor Rickard said that the University's industry partners should be particularly acknowledged for the level of their generous commitment.

The Industry Scholarships Scheme is supported by NBN Television and sponsored by The North Coast Ad Agency, Brisbane-based Amlink Technologies, Xerox Shop Lismore, Summerland Credit Union, NorthPower, Southern Cross University's Environmental Analysis Laboratory, Lone Star Steakhouse, Tempo Services Ltd, The Koori Mail and the Beach Hotel, Byron Bay.

This year's new recipients are -

The Koori Mail: Karen Bevitt, Bachelor of Contemporary Music, formerly at Manilla Central School (Karen Bevitt, the first winner of the Koori Mail Scholarship, was 2000 School Captain of Manilla Central School)

Amlink Technologies: Anne Bonhote-Mead, B. Tourism & Hospitality Management, Kadina High School

Beach Hotel - Byron Bay: Rea Bundock. B. Business Tourism/B Laws, Southern Cross School K-12

NorthPower: James Duncan, B. Applied Science, Kadina High School Lone Star Steakhouse: Kylie Griffis, B.Bus in Hotel /Catering Management, Wingham High School

North Coast Ad Agency: Alanna Horgan B. Arts, Kadina High School

Tempo Services: Andrew McLennan, B. Business, Richmond River High School

Summerland Credit Union: Mary Mitchell, B. Psych (Hons), Trinity Catholic College

SCU Environmental Analysis Laboratory: Gareth Walpole, B Applied Science (Forestry), Mount Lofty State High School

The Xerox Shop - Lismore: Cherie Reid, B Information Technology, Southern Cross School K-12

Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships

Sarah Bowles, B Exercise Science & Nutrition, Mullumbimby High School

Nathan Bush, B Human Movement Science/B Laws, St Joseph's College Banora (Nathan Bush was, 2000 School Captain of St.Josephs College Banora)

Alanna Coxon, B. Indigenous Studies/B. Laws, Whitsunday Anglican School. (Alana Coxon was Queensland Lions Youth of the Year and comes from Sarina Beach, just South of Mackay)

Belinda Curby, B Business/B Arts, Byron Bay High School

Kate Gaddes, B Legal & Justice Studies, Dorrigo High School

Amy Garden, B.Bus in Hotel/Catering Management, Sunshine Coast Christian Outreach College

Kate McFarlane, B Social Science, Richmond River High School

Lyndsay Sealey, B Contemporary Music, St John's College,

Jana Waldmann, B. Contemporary Music (Composition), St Monica's College Cairns

Amanda Wieland, B Naturopathy, Chinchilla State High School

Scholarships for continuing students

There are 9 Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships and 13 Industry Scholarships sponsored by Summerland Credit Union, and Amlink Technologies (two Scholarships each), and one each by Norco, The North Coast Ad Agency, Xerox Shop Lismore, Kirklands Coaches, Fletcher's Fotographics, Ballina RSL, Casino RSM, Tourism NSW, Ballina Beach Resort.