UOWD awards over 100 scholarships for autumn 2008

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Rob Whelan, president of UOWD, said:

"UOWD is delighted to recognise and reward the efforts of academically meritorious students who have chosen to study with us. This year, we have had some outstanding applicants who truly deserve these prestigious awards. The recipients represent several cultural and ethnic backgrounds and our scholarships encourage, promote and inculcate excellence, a quality we strive to achieve in all our endeavours."

A total of 33 undergraduate and postgraduate students were awarded the scholarships for the academic year 2008-2009, in the categories of Outstanding Academic Excellence, Outstanding Sports Achievement, Outstanding Students - Merit Scholarships and Outstanding Students - Sports and Merits Scholarships. The number of 100% scholarships for new undergraduate students was increased to five this year, because of the high standard of applicants.

In addition to the full scholarships, 70 other students were presented merit-based awards entitling them to 20 and 50 per cent off their tuition fees for the Autumn 2008 semester.
Gayara Dissanayaka, a Sri Lankan student, who won a full scholarship for the B.Com program, said: "I qualified for the scholarship because I obtained 4 A's in my A Level as well as on the basis of my overall academic record. Getting a scholarship in such a prestigious university is indeed a great privilege for me."

Pranav Arora, a recipient of the scholarship for outstanding sports achievement who also figured on the merit-based awards, said: "I am a cricket player and I also excelled in the academic field at my school, DPS Sharjah. I look forward to excelling in both fields, encouraged by these generous scholarships."

Dana Aburahma, a bright Palestinian student who has enrolled for the computer science program said: "I look forward to live up to the expectations of my parents and the university as I begin my college life. This scholarship has given a boost to my ambition and will inspire me to try harder to excel in my higher studies."

Tina Verma, who won a 50% scholarship as well as made it to the Dean's List, said: "In the summer semester I got 92% marks, and the scholarship is recognition of that achievement. I am delighted to have got the opportunity to study in one of the most reputed universities in the UAE."

The Dean's Merit List is an annual list made up of students who achieved grades in the top 5 percent in their respective faculty, amongst all students studying worldwide in courses offered by the University of Wollongong in Australia. The 2007 list featured 36 students from UOWD enrolled in the Faculty of Commerce and the Faculty of Informatics.