• Charles Sturt graduates and scholarship recipients recommend commencing and continuing students apply
• A range of scholarships are currently available from Charles Sturt to cover costs of accommodation, textbooks, travel, relocation costs and general expenses
• First round of scholarships close on Tuesday 14 January

Six Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) students who recently graduated attributed their success to receiving scholarships which helped to ease their financial burdens and worries.

The students have attested that receiving financial aid through scholarships allowed them to pay for accommodation, textbooks, food and travel, and focus on studying.

Miss Paige Mazoudier, Mr William Davies, Miss Sam Casey and Mr Bernard Higgins studied in Wagga Wagga, Mr Jake Rosengarten studied at Bathurst and online, and Miss Ingrid Spinks studied at Orange and Dubbo.

A range of scholarships are currently open for commencing and continuing Charles Sturt students to apply for to assist with costs in 2020, and these students recommend all who are eligible should apply.

Miss Mazoudier from Lorne graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) and received The Roberton Scholarship, valued at $40,000 ($10,000 per year), to assist with HECS fees, textbooks, accommodation or technology.

She could hardly believe it when her application was accepted and said having costs covered allowed her to focus on achieving good grades.

“Receiving this scholarship took many of the stresses associated with life at university away,” she said.

Mr Davies from Parkes graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and received assistance from Percy Allan Foundation Accommodation Scholarship, valued at $6,000 for up to four years ($24,000 total).

He completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management in 2018 and said the financial assistance came as a relief to him and his family.

“When I found out the application had been successful, I was ecstatic because I knew how much it would help me and my family,” he said.

Miss Casey from Griffith graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing and received a Casella Wines Health Science Scholarship, a one-off payment of $10,000 for first-year students in Wagga Wagga.

She advised those considering applying for scholarships to do so as soon as possible and not be put off by the thought of submitting an application.

“The application process was very easy, self-explanatory and took a surprisingly short amount of time,” she said.

Mr Higgins from Leeton received $3000 from the Wagga Wagga LALC and Aboriginal Community Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design (Animation and Visual Effects).

Receiving this scholarship and other equity scholarships allowed Mr Higgins to focus on completing a major four-minute animation assignment without fitting it around employment.

“This took me four weeks of working 50 hours a week, something I honestly would not have been able to achieve if I had to worry about work,” he said.

Miss Spinks from Henty completed a Bachelor of Dental Science in Orange and Dubbo with the assistance from the Carole and Stan Droder Scholarship, which is two instalments of $10,000 over two years.

She applied for the scholarship twice and advised students not to be deterred from applying more than once.

“Just because you weren’t successful one year, doesn’t mean you won’t be successful the next time,” she said.

Mr Rosengarten from Sydney completed his fifth and final year of a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)/Bachelor of Sport Studies after receiving the Dr Ron Camplin Scholarship OAM, valued at $18,000 paid in instalments over three years.

He said it was a proud moment when he realised the University was willing to make an investment in his future.

“It’s one thing to complete high school and be granted attendance at university, it’s another to be recognised as someone whose future is worthy of investment,” he said.

Director of the Charles Sturt Advancement Office Ms Sarah Ansell said scholarships are available for students based on financial hardship, community involvement, home location or dedication to an area of study.

“Students should look carefully at what is available and apply,” she said.

The next round of scholarship applications close on Tuesday 14 January.

A full list of available Charles Sturt scholarships is on the University’s website.