Going to school on your vacation

Movies, a race around UQ’s Great Court and a dance party will be some of the exciting activities on offer at UQ’s annual ,Leo Howard Vacation School.

About 250 students undertaking Year 12 in 2003 will balance a social program with a busy academic schedule. Students will also live on campus at Kings College and Emmanuel College.

UQ Admissions Manager Claron Driscoll said living in student accommodation would give participants the opportunity to experience residential life on a university campus.

“The social program particularly allows students from isolated country areas to get to know other students who intend continuing on to university after finishing Year 12,” Ms Driscoll said.

The school will be held from Monday, January 13 to Friday, January 17 at UQ’s St Lucia campus.

Leo Howard Vacation School Coordinator Deni Leishman said it would give Year 12 students the opportunity to experience university life and learn about the options for tertiary study.

“Forty-minute lectures throughout the week provide information on University programs, admissions, career planning, the transition from secondary to tertiary study, financial issues and student accommodation,” Miss Leishman said.

Students will also tour teaching and research museums and libraries and visit academic departments.

Miss Leishman said the academic program would include hands-on workshops and presentations on the different areas of study available at UQ. Students would also visit the Ipswich and Gatton campuses.

The Leo Howard Vacation School is held every January at the St Lucia campus. It 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. It began in 1972 with 25 students to give them first-hand experience of university life.

Media: For more information, contact Deni Leishman (telephone 07 3365 4752, email: d.leishman@uq.edu.au) or UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 3367, email: communications@uq.edu.au).