March 7, 2019
South Burnett student Alexandra Kelly is one of only two first-year University of the Sunshine Coast students to be awarded a $20,000 Tim Fairfax Regional Scholarship in 2019.
Alexandra, from Tablelands, will be starting a Bachelor of Business (Tourism, Leisure and Events Management).
The Fairfax family spent 20 years on a cattle property in rural Queensland and established the scholarship specifically to support students from regional and remote areas who leave home to attend university.
Alexandra, 18, said her family cried when they received the news of the scholarship.
“They were just so proud and so excited,” she said. “Being offered a place at USC to study my first preference was a big accomplishment for me but getting the Tim Fairfax scholarship was really something very special for us all.”
Alexandra, who graduated from St Mary’s Catholic College with an OP6 last year, said she was particularly interested in studying events management.
“I’d love to become an event manager specifically for business and corporate events and I feel that this degree offers me the very best of both worlds,” she said.
“I’m a very organised person and I love working in challenging environments, so I’m confident I’ve chosen the right career path.
“One of the reasons I chose USC to study at is the opportunities the location will make possible. The Sunshine Coast is a tourism and events destination, so I hope to be able to do work experience while I’m studying to keep me on my toes.”
USC awards two Tim Fairfax Scholarships to first-year undergraduate students every year.
