SWEET, SWEET SCHOLARSHIP: $10,000 for JCU students Bridgette Layman, Brent Barnett.
Sugar producer Wilmar has awarded two $10,000 scholarships to a pair of JCU engineering students. See what else they get as part of the deal.
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Is there anything sweeter for a university student in the depths of their third year, than a sudden injection of $10,000 cash?
This is only the second year Wilmar Sugar and Renewables has offered the huge $10,000 scholarship, and competition was reportedly fierce.
Wilmar production and technology general manager Jay Venning said the scholarship provides a pathway for the huge agri company to attract the “best and brightest” students into sugar and renewables.
“The $10,000 scholarship takes the financial pressure off students in their final year so they can focus on their thesis,” Mr Venning said.
“It also gives them access to real-world engineering experience.”
The two 2024 recipients are 22-year-old chemical engineering student Bridgette Layman, and 21-year-old electrical engineering student Brent Barnett.
Both students are in their third years of study at James Cook University.
Alongside the $10,000 the pair will also be undertaking paid work placements at Wilmar during a “vacation placement” in November.
Mr Barnett – a former Burdekin boy – said the scholarship was “absolutely huge” and he was looking forward to working at the mills.
“I do work part-time, but this scholarship will take a lot of pressure off me,” Mr Barnett said.
“I’ve already done some vacation placement with Wilmar and really enjoyed the work, the team and the mentoring.”
Miss Layman, who hails from Cairns, said she was excited to see what goes on in the factories.
“Every type of processing unit operation is used in sugar production,” Miss Layman said.
Mr Barnett and Miss Layman were awarded the Undergraduate Engineering Scholarship at Wilmar’s Townsville headquarters.
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Originally published as SWEET, SWEET SCHOLARSHIP: $10,000 for JCU students Bridgette Layman, Brent Barnett.
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