February 06, 2020
Deadline looms for Alcoa engineering scholarships
Female engineering students interested in a career in the resources sector have about a month left to put themselves forward for financial and practical support from Alcoa.
Applications close on 6 March for Alcoa’s Bev Corless Scholarships, which support full-time female students enrolled in their second, third, fourth or fifth year of studies in an engineering degree at Perth’s Curtin University.
Two successful applicants will each receive $5,000 toward their 2020 studies and the opportunity for practical work experience with the company.
Eligible disciplines of study include Civil and Construction, Chemical, Electrical and Electronic, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Mining, and Metallurgical.
Alcoa, which operates bauxite mines and alumina refineries in the south west of WA, was the first company to introduce scholarships for women studying engineering at Curtin more than a decade ago. They have since inspired other companies to offer similar opportunities.
2017 Bev Corless Scholarship recipient Sushmita Tantry urged interested students to apply saying she had not only received invaluable financial support but also the opportunity to get hands-on experience and paid work with Alcoa’s chemical engineering department during the 2019-2020 summer university break.
“The scholarship alleviated some of the financial pressure of university and meant that I was able to put more of my attention to where it was better needed in my studies,” Sushmita said.
“I knew that Alcoa would be a great company to work for as a chemical engineer and having the potential for future vacation and graduate work through the scholarship gave me a sense of security in my future.
“A lot of stress you go through as an engineering student is to do with getting a work placement and going through the interview and application process on top of studying. It was reassuring to know that I had Alcoa backing me.”
The Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarships, named in honour of one of Alcoa’s former outstanding engineers, aim to increase the ratio of females to males in the profession.
More information including an application form can be found at Curtin’s website - https://scholarships.curtin.edu.au/Scholarship/.
ENDS
Media contact:
Cheri Tiglias, Corporate Affairs Advisor, 0450 393 0651, cheri.tiglias@alcoa.com