RISING STARS SCHOLARSHIPS

RISING Stars at Southern Cross University have been awarded special scholarships to give them a headstart with their studies.

Among the 21 new recipients are first-year business students Mariliis Moelder and Che McDougall who are studying a Bachelor of Business in Convention and Event Management at the Gold Coast campus.

They completed work experience at Cooly Rocks On in June and were both awarded a Connecting Southern Gold Coast Tourism Management Scholarship at the Gold Coast Rising Stars ceremony.

As part of her scholarship, Mariliis worked with the Connecting Southern Gold Coast marketing team in the lead up to Cooly Rocks On as the business liaison officer organising the poodle parade and even became the poster girl for the iconic festival.

She was an event planner in her home country, Estonia, and now lives in Australia with her two children and is studying to expand her skillset to organise conferences and conventions on a much larger scale.

“This scholarship was not only a nice acknowledgment and enabled me to buy textbooks, office supplies and a new phone for study, it also gave me the opportunity to work with Peter Doggett who runs Cooly Rocks On and learn so much from him which was a great experience,” Mariliis said.

“I love the southern end of the Gold Coast and studying at Southern Cross University close to the beach.”

Southern Cross University’s Rising Stars Scholarships are worth a total of more than $250,000 and are supported by the university and 36 donors including individuals, businesses and community groups and trusts.

Scholarships and prizes vary in value from $500 to $25,000.