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Wednesday, 22 August 2012

High-achieving undergraduate business students at The University of Western Australia who are experiencing financial hardship will benefit from a renewed three-year sponsorship agreement signed between the UWA Business School and energy and resource infrastructure company ATCO Australia.

The ATCO Australia Undergraduate Scholarship scheme also aims to promote thought leadership, debate and discussion in the business community.

Under the new agreement, ATCO Australia will become a UWA Business School Supporting Corporate Partner and co-host a series of Breakfast by the Bay and Leaders' Luncheon events to bring together the business and wider communities, and feature prominent guest speakers from industry, government and the not-for-profit sector.

UWA Business School Dean Winthrop Professor Phil Dolan said ATCO Australia's investment made an important contribution to business education and public debate.

"Most importantly, the ATCO Australia Undergraduate Scholarship allows some of our brightest students to concentrate fully on their studies without having to worry about financial difficulties or external work commitments," Professor Dolan said.

This year's ATCO Australia Undergraduate Scholarship was awarded jointly to UWA Business School students Ashlee Bongers (Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science) and Darcy White (Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts [Communication Studies]).

ATCO Australia Managing Director Steven Landry said the partnership underscored the company's long-term commitment to the WA community.

"Training the next generation of business leaders is vital to the continued prosperity of Australia, ensuring the community will prosper from the incredible opportunities that are being presented in this country, in particular in Western Australia," Mr Landry said.

"ATCO Australia is delighted to be partnering the UWA Business School and providing a way forward for these students, including our scholarship winners, both of whom I've had the great fortune to meet and spend time with discussing their aspirations.

"Ashlee and Darcy are impressive young adults and we are delighted to be able to assist them with their education at the UWA Business School, which I know will enable them to forge very successful careers in their chosen fields."

Scholarship recipient Ashlee Bongers, from Cowaramup, said the award greatly assisted in covering her living away from home costs and allowed her to focus more on her studies to achieve her best.

The ATCO Australia sponsorship agreement was renewed at an official signing ceremony attended by executives from ATCO Australia and UWA on 13 August 2012.

UWA Business School

The University of Western Australia was established in 1911 and has more than 24,000 enrolled students.  It is a member of the research-intensive Group of Eight (Go8) network, the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), and a founding member of the Matariki Network of Universities.

With more than 5500 students, The University of Western Australia's Business School is one of the University's largest faculties.  The School received its European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation in 2008 and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation in 2011, and is guided by a Business School Board that includes leaders from companies such as Wesfarmers, BHP Billiton, and Woodside.

Media references

Rhonda Flottmann (UWA Business School)  (+61 8)  6488 2925
Quang Ly (UWA Business School)  (+61 8)  6488 5834  /  (+61 4) 01 824 362
Diana Wearing Smith (ATCO Australia)  (+61 8)  9320 0211
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

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