Scholarship provides financial relief

Enterprising Khya Hibbard-Rea is no stranger to hard work. The 18-year-old from Banora Point has been in gainful employment since the age of 13 – working as many as 60 hours a week in recent months to help save for her tertiary education.

So the news that she has been awarded a three-year, $15,000 Tweed Heads Bowls Club scholarship to study for a Bachelor of Business at the Tweed Gold Coast campus of Southern Cross University has come as a welcome relief.

Khya will receive her scholarship at a presentation ceremony for all recipients on Friday (February 22) at the Tweed Gold Coast campus.

“I’ve been working two jobs since finishing Year 12 at Tweed River High School last year to save money for uni,” said Khya. “It’s been tiring and has meant I haven’t had much time for socialising. The scholarship is fantastic and will help relieve the financial pressure so that I can concentrate on my studies.”

Khya was babysitting children even before she reached the legal working age and has worked a number of jobs since to help her single mother make ends meet. “I have always been happy to help Mum by paying board and saving for the things I want, and work has generally been fun,” she said. “I’ve earned enough money to buy myself a car and a laptop.”

Scholarships valued at more than $355,000 will be awarded to more than 80 students enrolled at Southern Cross University this year – the highest number of scholarships in the program’s 13-year history. Most are valued at $5000 per year and are supported by the vice-chancellor, community groups, trusts and industry partners, including new supporters First National Real Estate, the Far North Coast Law Society, NSW Sport and Recreation, ANZ and Norco.

Fifty new scholarships are being offered in 2008, including eight Honours scholarships, five Tweed Shire Council scholarships and three Lismore City Council scholarships.

Photo opportunity: Recipients studying at the Tweed Gold Coast campus of Southern Cross University will be presented with their scholarships during a ceremony on Friday,February 22, at 11am in the South Sea Island Room of the Tweed Heads Civic Centre, Brett Street, Tweed Heads.