_{Giving Day 2020}

A story of philanthropy at UQ

Because of you, the good doesn't stop

UQ Giving Day 2020 took place on Wednesday 21 October.

This year, it was all about celebrating the power of our UQ community and all that you have helped us achieve.

Because of you, in 2020, we have achieved great things. See below a timeline of what was made possible in the last year, thanks to your generosity.

Photo of student callers in the call room with balloons celebrating

Celebrations in the Call Room as UQ reached it's $1 million fundraising target on Giving Day 2019

A JKMRC PhD student examines a mineral processing plant’s flotation section at a mine in Mount Isa

Tran Hoang Phuong Linh, 2019 FitzGerald Scholarship recipient, with Professor Daniel Zizzo, Head, School of Economics

Photo of 2020 Future Scientist Scholarship recipient Elyssa Hawke

2020 Future Scientist Scholarship recipient Elyssa Hawke, working to complete a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)

Photo of Professor Paul Taylor in a lab coat

Professor Paul Young

Giving Day Milestones

23 October 2019 - UQ Milestone

UQ exceeds ambitious fundraising goal of $1 million in 24 hours

Celebrations in the Call Room as UQ reached it's $1 million fundraising target on Giving Day 2019

On Giving Day 2019, 1394 ChangeMakers came together to support important causes at UQ. With UQ providing matched funds for 937 gifts, together we raised $2,167,020 to support students, accelerate vital research and transform teaching and learning. Since then, thanks to your generosity, we've been able to continue to achieve great things.

2019/2020 - Sustainable Minerals Institute Milestone

Dee Bradshaw Travel Scholarship

Since Giving Day last year the Sustainable Minerals Institute has continued to build funds in the Dee Bradshaw Travel Scholarship having met our initial target of $20,000.

We are now seeking approval from the Graduate School to award the inaugural scholarship of $5000, particularly in celebration and recognition of the 50 year anniversary of SMI’s Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC), where Dee Bradshaw worked while at UQ.

In 2020 the team in SMI aims to further increase scholarship funds to enable HDR students to undertake field work and internships during their studies to consolidate and develop their research, and build their networks to help them secure a fulfilling academic career.

February 2020 - Faculty of Business, Economics and Law Milestone

Illustrious Economics alumnus creates prestigious new scholarship

One of Australia’s most highly-regarded economists and UQ alumnus, Dr Vince FitzGerald AO created the FitzGerald Scholarship in 2018, awarding an endowed scholarship to Bachelor of Economics (Honours) students specialising in the econometrics field of study. During UQ’s first Giving Day, donors joined with Dr FitzGerald to further boost the endowment, helping to create a larger scholarship for future students.

Tran Hoang Phuong Linh, the inaugural scholarship recipient, is incredibly grateful for the opportunities and support the scholarship provides. “I know a simple thank you cannot express fully how wonderful this is. You have inspired me to work even harder and become successful so that I could give back to the community just like the way you have done for me”.

5 March 2020 - Faculty of Science Milestone

Three Future Scientist Scholarship winners were announced

Elyssa Hawke - Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
Charlie Fuller - Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Arts
Naran Gillies- Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)

Thanks to 2019 Giving Day donors, three new students received Future Scientist Scholarships, which was more than any other year. In 2020, we hope that the number of students receiving this scholarship will double compared to 2018.

The scholarship alleviates students’ financial burdens to focus more on studies at UQ. It provides opportunities for budding scientists who are experiencing financial hardships and who are from diverse backgrounds. This scholarship encourages diversity in the science community of the future, and makes a huge impact in shaping the lives and experience of students at UQ.

2020 Future Scientist Scholarship recipient Elyssa Hawke, working to complete a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)

1 July 2020 - Faculty of Business, Economics and Law Milestone

Frank Finn Scholarship quadruples impact

Frank Finn has long been a name associated with Commerce at The University of Queensland. In 2008, an endowed scholarship was created in Professor Finn’s name to support two Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) students demonstrating academic excellence and financial hardship each year.

Thanks to support from both new and existing donors during UQ’s first Giving Day, the Frank Finn Endowment fund reached a level where it is now able to support more students than ever before: eight scholarships were awarded in 2020. Almost 200 alumni, staff, and friends contributed to the fund, and will now help change the lives of eight worthy Bachelor of Commerce students every year in perpetuity.

14 July 2020 - UQ Milestone

UQ reaches the fundraising target of $23.5 million to fast-track the COVID-19 vaccine.

Over 2,600 partners contributed to the philanthropic campaign, including substantial contributions by BHP Foundation ($2 million), Newcrest Mining ($1 million), The Lott ($1 million), Glencore ($725,000), Aurizon ($250,000) and RACQ ($100,000).

The Queensland Government allocated $10 million and the Australian Government has pledged a further $3 million to the project led by UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences.

September 2020 - Faculty of Business, Economics and Law Milestone

UQ Law Alumni Association raises almost $1 million for Law students

Under the leadership of John McKenna QC, the UQ Law Alumni Association came together on Giving Day 2019 to raise funds for a needs-based endowed scholarship.

More than 50 alumni and staff supported the cause and, together with matched funds from UQ, contributed almost $1 million to provide financial support to undergraduate law students in perpetuity: a wonderful gesture of generosity and support for Queensland’s future lawmakers.

The first five of these scholarships were awarded in September 2020.

September 2020 - Queensland Brain Institute Milestone

Discoveries at QBI are the critical lifeline to solving many of the health problems facing the world today.

Through the generosity of donors at UQ’s first Giving Day, QBI’s Discovery Research Endowment Fund has now grown to over $385,000. Over time, this fund will allow scientists, at the Queensland Brain Institute, to focus on curiosity-driven research, which may lead to the next big scientific discovery. The impacts of this innovative research can be far-reaching and contribute to solving major global health issues, including dementia, motor neurone disease, stroke and depression and anxiety. We are incredibly grateful for your support which is helping us to bridge the gap between the researcher with an idea and the discovery of entirely new possibilities in neuroscience.

Dr Rebecca San Gil

November 2020 - Faculty of Medicine Milestone

Medical Endowment Scholarship – Inaugural Student Awardee

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the UQ Medical Endowment Scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2019, to a deserving and talented medicine student, Christina Read. This endowed scholarship ensures support to UQ medical students in financial need, providing them the opportunity to undertake a first-class medical education while minimising expenses like tuition, travel, living allowances and residential fees. For Christina, this scholarship has allowed her more ability to focus on her studies, including a regional placement at UQ’s Rural Clinical School in Bundaberg. “The money from this scholarship will pay for my rent in Bundaberg this year, which significantly relieves the financial pressure I was under,” says Christina. Thanks to our donors, more students like Christina will be able to fulfil their professional dreams for generations to come.

Students undertake a range of practical training as part of UQ’s medicine program

2020 - Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology Milestone

EAIT Women in Action

The Women in Action Fund was distinguished as the Faculty’s featured fund during the University’s first “Giving Day” in October 2019. The purpose of the fund is to support female students studying computer science, engineering, design or information technology at UQ to engage in community and industry-based experiences via study tours, student exchange, and short term professional and personal development experiences. For every $1,000 raised, a grant can be awarded to support an aspiring female student wanting to make a global impact. Through Giving Day 2019, over $5,000 was raised from 30 generous donors, enough to support 5 talented female students to participate in life-changing experiences.

EAIT Women in Action recipient Harriet Biddulph at Maules Creek

22 November 2020 - AIBN Milestone

Stem Cell Hackathon Awards Night

Funding from UQ giving day enabled AIBN to promote entrepreneurship in the institute by funding the prizes for the Stem Cell Hackathon.

The top awards were taken out by pitches for a stem cell classification game, an online umbilical cord blood portal, and a pitch for data visualisation analysis systems. The Hackathon provided HDR students and EMCAs from around UQ a unique opportunity to think and work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds and disciplines, to solve some of our biggest problems.

The prizes were awarded at an awards night in November and winning pitches can be viewed here.