UQ to hold Leo Howard Vacation School for Year 12 students

Students undertaking Year 12 this year will descend on The University of Queensland this month for the popular annual Leo Howard Vacation School.

More than 620 high school students from Thursday Island in Queensland to northern NSW have signed up for the Vacation School which will be held from Sunday, January 14 to Friday, January 19, 2001 at UQ's St Lucia campus in Brisbane.

It will expose participants to a full range of University study and lifestyle options. Lectures and seminars, hands-on activities, career planning workshops, campus tours and a jam-packed social program are on offer.

Students attend the School as residential or non-residential participants, with accommodation offered in University residential colleges to gain the added experience of living on a University campus.

"The School helps students to fine-tune study and career choices, while enjoying the excellent facilities UQ offers", Vacation School coordinator Clio Myers said. "It includes talks on the University's program offerings and career possibilities, lectures similar to what first-year students experience in their chosen areas of study, and information on preparing for university, financial issues and accommodation."

The School will offer tours of the St Lucia campus and its residential colleges, a tour and overnight stay at UQ Gatton and a visit to UQ Ipswich.

Ms Myers said the full social program included theatre sports with the Queensland Theatre Company, a dance party, barbecue and visits to Amazons Aquatic Adventureland and the Schonell cinema. Participants would also have time to use the University's sports facilities including the swimming pool, squash courts, tennis courts and gym.

"The social program particularly allows students from isolated country areas to form a peer group network with other students who intend continuing on to University after finishing Year 12," Ms Myers said.

Ms Myers said many participants enjoyed themselves so much they came back to help as Leo Howard Vacation School supervisors.

The Leo Howard Vacation School was founded by the late Dr Leo Howard (1924-1978), a senior lecturer in the University's Mathematics Department and a Deputy Warden of Union College. Dr Howard developed a great rapport with students and fostered this through his love of teaching. The School has grown in popularity from its first intake of 25 students in 1972.

Media contact: Ms Clio Myers (telephone 07 3365 8823) or email: communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au.