Griffith University, Queensland

The George Alexander Foundation Accommodation Scholarship

$157,500 (part of a commitment of $1,230,000 over ten years)

GAF’s partnership with Griffith is now in its eighth year. Griffith GAF scholars are characterised by academic merit and the potential to be strong community leaders, as illustrated in this student profile. www.griffith.edu.au

Sharp intellect and boundless energy shine through in this profile of a young woman who seems destined to make a big impact on the world of Engineering. What challenges did the transition to tertiary education present for you?

Student Profile

Aja Pymble-Ward, GAF Scholar 2008

Second-year student, Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Advanced with Honours) (four-year degree course)

I initially found it a big challenge that all of a sudden my studies were limited to the one area: science. I’d always been used to having a bit of a release in classes like English Literature and French to give the other side of the brain a bit of a workout. So when I started studying engineering, I had to get used to the fact that maths and physics would be my all day, every day activities.

How did the GAF scholarship help address these challenges?

The GAF scholarship allowed me to move on campus and live with other students who were going through similar transitions. Within my first week, I managed to locate all the engineering students in my building and it was fantastic to pick up all the tips needed to really enjoy my studies.

Has the scholarship brought other benefits? Any benefits you did not really expect or anticipate?

The biggest, and most obvious benefit, would be the financial help. This scholarship covers the majority of my living costs each year.

The George Alexander Foundation 2009 Scholarship Winners Scholarships each valued at $22,500 paid over three years

Recipient Course

Alethea Combe

Elly Greene

Samantha Gustavson

Benjamin Harris

Marcus Raty

Kyle Richardson

Roslyn Rowen

Morgan Weston

Bachelor of Music

Bachelor of Engineering (Advanced with Honours)

Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

Bachelor of Exercise Science (Pre Physiotherapy)

Bachelor of Engineering (Advanced with Honours)

Bachelor of Exercise Science (Pre Physiotherapy)

I come home and attend meal times with all the other students on campus and it’s like having a big extended family dinner. I hope that one day I’ll be in a stable financial situation to give back to The George Alexander Foundation in return for what they have given me.

Unexpected benefits are the networking side of things that being a GAF scholarship recipient brings. Breakfasts and various meet-and-greet opportunities mean that I can meet other like-minded students.

Why did you choose the course you are studying?

I’ve always loved the stimulating challenge of a difficult maths problem. It’s so rewarding to finally crack something you’ve been working on for hours. It works the brain in a way that other things in life can’t.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years and what will you be doing?

In ten years time I plan to be working for a big private engineering firm in the south of France – ideally Bordeaux! By then, being a civil engineer will mean I’ll be needed in pretty much all sectors of the engineering world. I’ll be very lucky to be able to move from transport engineering to petroleum engineering and so on. It’s all very exciting!

Bachelor of Arts in Language and Applied Linguistics

Bachelor of Photonic and Nanoscience