Kinesiology student Kaitlyn Singh and Fine Arts student Sheena Nickel said they were overjoyed recently to find out that they will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to study at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Australia.

The two young women had been diligently planning and saving to attend CSU as part of UFV Study Abroad program for the July-November 2013 semester.

When the Australian government provided CSU with funding to assist two students with the cost of studying at their university in 2013, they zeroed in on Kaitlyn and Sheena’s applications. “These two students have exceptional GPAs and outstanding references,” says Jag Deol, UFV Study Abroad coordinator. “They will represent UFV well at CSU.”

The scholarship was an unexpected surprise for the two students. “When I heard the news, I felt incredibly excited and blessed to be given such an amazing scholarship,” Sheena says. “I called my parents right away,” Kaitlyn adds. “I couldn’t contain my excitement.”

Kaitlyn and Sheena will stay at CSU’s Wagga Wagga campus. Wagga Wagga is the largest inland city in New South Wales and located midway between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s two largest cities. The two travelers will arrive during winter in July and stay until Australia’s summer in December.

(News excerpt from the UFV Study Abroad blog)