Energy Queensland awarded five University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) engineering students a Future of Energy Engineering Scholarship.
Luke Brandt was one of the five engineering students to receive the scholarship.
“But I’m looking forward to a lot of work with the electricity grid and making sure everything’s nice and safe, and hopefully we can all work together help build a good, smart grid for the future,” Brandt said.
Chase Richardson, a fourth-year electrical and electronic engineering student, was another Future of Energy Engineering Scholarship recipient.
“I really enjoy the problem-solving elements of electrical engineering and the opportunities that are now becoming available, especially with the energy transition that’s upon us,” Richardson said.
“Taking on engineering takes quite a bit of effort and obviously a lot of time. The scholarship allows me to concentrate more on my studies with less worrying about financial constraints that come along with carrying out a degree – especially as a mature age student,” he stated.
According to UniSQ, both Richardson and Brandt became interested in pursuing future options with Energy Queensland after completing vacation programs in recent years, thanks to a robust industrial collaboration between UniSQ and Energy Queensland.
They said their vacation programs inspired them to apply for the Future of Energy Engineering Scholarships.
“The Energy Queensland Vacation Program was the most eye-opening thing I could have done for my studies. It was amazing just seeing everyone so motivated, so disciplined, and so passionate about what they were doing for industry,” Brandt stated.
“At the University of Southern Queensland there are so many opportunities for students to get involved with industry. When the opportunities do arise, grab them with both hands,” Richardson said.
Energy Queensland Chief Engineer Peter Price stated that the University of Southern Queensland had always delivered great applicants for the university’s graduate program.
“These five successful Future of Energy Engineering Scholarship holders will play a fundamental role in designing the infrastructure to support the massive growth in renewable energy across Queensland,” Price said.
He added that many of these students have previously spent time working alongside Energy Queensland’s engineering teams, where they have witnessed the challenges and the rapid pace at which the electricity industry is developing and transitioning with the inclusion of renewables, electric vehicles, and storage.
“These students, who also make up this inaugural cohort, will play a fundamental role in designing the infrastructure to support increased network capability as we work to deliver a net zero future,” he continued.
