Fostering a neighbourly exchange
by Charlotte Knottenbelt
As tertiary students the world over feel the pinch of rising costs, more are
taking a closer look at the plethora of scholarships available.
While the big ones are hotly contested (think Churchill Fellowships, Rhodes Scholarships and UniSA’s own Samstag scholarships) there are also thousands of smaller scholarships, prizes and awards to be had – but the onus is on you to seek them out and follow through.
UniSA commerce student Latif Oylan (pictured) did exactly that, and he’s now $3,000 better off, after winning a PepsiCo Excel Award.
“I originally applied in 2003 and it was quite a long process to go through until they told me I’d been selected in August 2004,” says Latif, an international student from Turkey.
The effort was worth it though – Latif will receive $3,000 a year for up to three years.
“The selectors took into account not only your academic performance, but also things like community service and the international ranking of your university.
I think UniSA’s reputation definitely had an effect on me winning the scholarship,” he says.
While the scholarship he won is open to children of Pepsi employees, Latif is adamant that there are prospects out there for everyone. “You have to search for opportunities. Make your own approach.”
For more information on scholarships visit www.unisa.edu.au/studysas/scholarships