UQ student wins prestigious scholarship

University of Queensland (UQ) Gatton student Elissa Wegener has done her family and the University proud in winning a prestigious $5,000 scholarship.

Ms Wegener was awarded the 2004 Dow AgroSciences Scholarship for Women in Agriculture at the Gatton Campus’ annual Diversity Day celebrations this week.

Having grown up on her family’s cotton and grain farm near Warra on the Darling Downs, Ms Wegener has kick-started what is already shaping up as an exciting career by enrolling in a dual degree in Agronomy and Agribusiness at UQ Gatton.

By combining her interest in both the scientific and business sides of agriculture, Ms Wegener aims to use her studies and on-farm experience to work with the farming community in adopting ever-changing technology.

In presenting the scholarship, Associate Professor Alan Wearing, Head of the School of Agronomy and Horticulture, said Ms Wegener was a worthy recipient with a bright future.

“UQ Gatton and Dow AgroSciences are very proud to have such a capable and high performing student win this award,” Associate Professor Wearing said.

“We are also very confident that Elissa will use the award well and that she will be a tremendous asset for rural industry when she graduates.”

Associate Professor Wearing said the judging panel for the scholarship had been particularly impressed with the standard of applicants this year and all deserved congratulation.

Recognising the depth of competition for the scholarship, the panel also awarded a $250 supplementary prize to Ms Carmel Struth, a part-time student studying externally through UQ Gatton.

More information: Assoc. Prof. Alan Wearing, (07) 5460 1310