William Crowe

My name is William Crowe, and I am a CQUniversity Rockhampton engineering graduate and recipient of the Desmond Tabone Memorial Scholarship.

I’m the first person in my family to go to Uni – so going to university was a big deal for me.

One of my teachers suggested I apply for the scholarship. She went through Uni and knew the financial hardships associated with studying.

It was really easy to apply and the scholarship has had an exponential effect on my life: I spent more time on my studies, which improved my grades and provided greater job opportunities.

I lived rurally (65km north of Rockhampton) and the scholarship helped me get to classes – fuel is so expensive. It also gave me a bit more financial assistance with purchasing a laptop and textbooks and everything else associated with starting a Uni degree.

I chose engineering because I enjoyed mathematics and problem-solving at school and I also liked designing stuff in the shed with my Dad.

On my second work placement, I was offered a job in the Brisbane CBD – I managed to stay on in my placement as a student Engineer and work for another six months, before graduating and transferring from an undergraduate to a graduate position.

It’s not just a sum of money but much, much more. Without the scholarship, I wouldn't have received first class honours and been able to walk straight into a graduate job.

I would encourage everyone studying at university to apply for a scholarship. All donors want to help university students excel in their education.