Challenge to provide big rewards for school students

School students are the winners of this year’s Country Challenge on Campus – and the race hasn’t even started.

The event, which aims to raise money for Beyond Blue as part of Mental Health Week, will see two school students receive a $4500 reduction to the cost of accommodation for their first year of study at the University of Queensland Gatton campus.

UQ Gatton’s Halls of Residence will prize the $4500 fee reduction to the male and female 10km School Student category winners, in a bid to provide financial relief for students.

UQ Gatton’s Head of Halls Simon Scott said while UQ offers a number of scholarships for future and current students, this prize would provide another avenue.

The event is open to all school students and the prize will be valid for three years, giving Year 10 and 11 students the opportunity to benefit once they graduate from school.

Mr Scott said the event will encourage the school students to experience life on campus, showing them the benefits of selecting Gatton as their first preference in tertiary applications.

“The campus really is a peaceful and picturesque place,” Mr Scott said.

“We also have great sports facilities, staff doing ground-breaking research in areas such as cancer treatment, and a drone and precision farming program.

“We have new facilities being opened and upgraded regularly and both our School of Agriculture and Food Sciences (15) and School of Veterinary Science (22) were ranked in the top twenty-five in the 2015 QS World University Rankings.”

Mr Scott said that while two lucky students will receive a fantastic boost to their first year at UQ Gatton, other entrants will have the opportunity to participate in a fun event, raise money for charity and experience what life is like on campus.

“There really won’t be any losers on the day,” he said.

In addition to the Halls prize, university students in the 10km race will be competing for a $250 gift voucher for the campus’ Co-op Bookshop.

Community members and staff will be racing for a three month UQ Sport Gold Membership worth $250, valid at UQ Sport Gatton and St Lucia.

Event details for the 2016 Country Challenge on Campus

Where:

Registrations and start/finish in the UQ Gatton Campus Central Walkway

Presentations, post-race party and dive-in movie at the UQ Sport Fitness and Aquatic Centre

When: Sunday, 9 October 2016.

Race kit collection starts from 2pm

5km starts 4pm

10km starts 4.30pm

Presentations start 6.30pm

Dive-In Movie starts 7pm

Register here. 

Media: UQ Gatton Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator Neil Donnelly, n.donnelly@uq.edu.au, 0409 265 587.