Southern Cross University student’s star is rising

A Southern Cross University student from the Tweed Gold Coast campus has won a scholarship valued at $3000 from events and convention software company Amlink.

The scholarship is one of 10 global Rising Star scholarships awarded each year to students who show exceptional enthusiasm and dedication to excellence in the area of tourism and events management.

Southern Cross University Bachelor of Business in Convention and Event Management student and Rising Star scholarship winner, Sarah Jones said that her passion for events management started early.

“A few years ago, I was put in charge of all the arrangements for my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary and I really enjoyed coordinating everything,” said Sarah.

“I realised I had a flair for organising things and I have been passionate about it ever since.”

Originally from Wagga Wagga, Sarah has already been noticed for her outstanding academic achievement, having won the annual NSW Minister for Tourism Student Achiever Award last year.

She said that living and studying on the Gold Coast had given her a unique insight into the tourism industry.

“It’s exciting because there are so many fields within the area of events management, from conferences to weddings or sporting events, and the course here has prepared me well for all of them.

“I’ve also learned a great deal just from being in this area and meeting some of the amazing people that live here. I’d really like to get involved in destination branding and the Gold Coast is an enormously interesting example of what can be done,” she said.

To secure the Amlink Rising Star scholarship, tourism students from across the country submit a 1000 word submission endorsed by their teacher or lecturer explaining why they feel passionately about their area of study.

It is the second year that Southern Cross University has taken out one of the awards, with Bachelor of Business in Convention and Event Management student Emilia Dempster using one of last year’s scholarships to help fund an internship with a US conventions company in America.

School of Tourism and Hospitality Management lecturer Dr Peter Wynn Moylan said he was happy to support Sarah’s submission.

“Sarah really has demonstrated the capabilities and personal qualities required to make a very successful career in event management,” said Dr Wynn Moylan.

“The tourism industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years and students like Sarah are the talent of the future.”