Balancing school, sport and cultural pursuits has paid dividends for northside resident Damian Maher, who will begin his first year studies at Â鶹ÊÓƵ of Queensland with a prestigious $60,000 scholarship for academic excellence.
Mr Maher, of Bridgeman Downs, who was the Dux and Music Vice-Captain of St Joseph’s School, Gregory Terrace, begins his Bachelor of Economics/Laws studies at Â鶹ÊÓƵ St Lucia.
He will attend a formal ceremony at the St Lucia campus on Sunday, February 19 when Â鶹ÊÓƵ Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Excellence Scholarships, as well as a number of industry-sponsored Â鶹ÊÓƵ Merit Scholarships will be awarded.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Vice-Chancellor Professor Debbie Terry will host the event.
Mr Maher, who has been awarded a Â鶹ÊÓƵ Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship valued at $12,000 a year for five years, said putting in the time and effort, and effective time management were the keys to his academic success.
“I wanted to come to Â鶹ÊÓƵ because it has one of the best reputations for academic excellence in law and economics in the southern hemisphere,” he said.
While at school, Mr Maher, his fellow students and teachers helped Eddie’s Van, which provides breakfast for homeless people.
He also performed unpaid maths tutoring for Year 8-12 students; and played flute, alto sax, piccolo and sang in the Terrace Jazz Orchestra, Symphony Wind Ensemble and Celebration Orchestra.
He volunteered at the Holy Spirit Nursing Home Aspley, which he plans to continue this year.
Mr Maher’s achievements include receiving a school service award; and he was a co-winner of Australia's largest and most prestigious national secondary school debating competition, the Evatt Trophy competition, which emulates decisions carried out by the United Nations Security Council.
His ultimate goal is to work at the International Monetary Fund or the World Trade Organisation.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Academic Scholarship program was launched in 2008, with the first scholarships being awarded for 2009 admissions. Almost 1000 Academic scholarships have been awarded in the past few years.
The scholarships are open to Year 12 and gap year students who are Australian citizens, or international students who have completed Years 11-12 in Australia.
Selection is by a panel of faculty representatives chaired by Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and is based on a range of factors including applicants’ academic, leadership and community service achievements. The panel also aims to award the scholarships across a range of programs and high schools.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ received more than 1600 applications for these scholarships in 2012, with more than 500 applicants achieving an OP1.
This year’s winners include:
• Â鶹ÊÓƵ Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships (59 awarded), each valued at $12,000 per year for up to five years (overall value, $60,000).
• Â鶹ÊÓƵ Excellence Scholarships (128 awarded), valued at $6000 per year for up to four years (overall value $24,000).
• Â鶹ÊÓƵ Merit Scholarships (158 awarded - including 26 sponsored by industry groups – Boeing, DELL), valued at $6000 for the first year of study.
More information:
Media: Jan King 0413 601 248
