• Charles Sturt Foundation Trust grew in value to $25 million in 2021 through donations, endowments and bequests
• Scholarship applications close on Wednesday 2 February

The Charles Sturt University Foundation Trust is set to help almost 400 students achieve their higher education dreams this year through the provision of scholarships.

The Foundation Trust saw significant growth during the pandemic last year, increasing its value to $25 million through donations, endowments or money bequeathed to the University.

In 2022, the Foundation is preparing to offer 388 scholarships worth more than $2 million, including $924,135 in new or renewed scholarships and $1.3 million in existing scholarships, to current and commencing students.

The Foundation also raised more than $500,00 for research projects in 2021, including $400,000 for wetland bird monitoring and detection and more than $100,000 to establish scholarships for First Nations students to study agriculture.

The generous donation of $100,000 from Riverina Oils to support the Indigenous Agriculture Support Scholarships builds on previous support to bring the Fund to close to $250,000.

CEO of the Charles Sturt Foundation Trust Ms Sarah Ansell said the generosity of businesses and individuals that allowed the Foundation to grow at such a rate over the last couple of years is phenomenal, especially in a pandemic.

“It is fantastic that businesses and the community are working together to ensure equitable access to first class education in our regions,” she said.

“It’s amazing, particularly in a pandemic, to bring in those numbers.”

Ms Ansell said donations do not have to be thousands of dollars to be significant and that every amount will go toward providing opportunities for students.

And with the University establishing new research centres, Ms Ansell said there are plenty of opportunities for businesses or individuals to support the University in ways that align with their interests.

“From a small donation to $1 million, talk to me and tell me what you’re interested in and I can tell you how to help,” she said.

For the 388 scholarships on offer, there are more than 8,000 applicants, indicating the need for more scholarship options.

Obtaining a scholarship is often the difference between attending or not attending university, according to Ms Ansell.

She encourages potential donors to get in contact with her via email at sansell@csu.edu.au.

Current or commencing students considering applying for a scholarship have until Wednesday 2 February to do so.

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