QUT has announced the 10 inaugural Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship recipients, elite athletes in sports including swimming, athletics, weightlifting and lawn bowls.
The inaugural recipients of the QUT - AIS scholarships are nationally recognised by the Australian Institute of Sport’s categorisation framework and competing in AIS funded High Performance Sports.
The following students have each received a $10,000 cash scholarships, along with access to QUT’s Elite Athlete Program and College of Excellence:
- Elle Armit (Waterpolo)
- Mia Bailey (Football)
- Nicholas Beveridge (Triathlon)
- Ryan Elliott (Cycling)
- Isis Holt (Athletics)
- Matthew Lydement (Weightlifting)
- Matilda Moore (Waterpolo)
- Alec Paterson (Rowing)
- Jake Rynne (Bowls)
- Samuel Short (Swimming)
Through this partnership, AIS and QUT aim to enhance the student-athlete experience and enable career-best outcomes in both academic and sporting arenas.
2020 Tokyo Paralympic Silver medallist Isis Holt is one of the inaugural recipients of the QUT – AIS scholarship, and recognises the value that study is bringing to her sports career.
“My psychology degree has allowed me to implement strategies into both my studies and my training to allow me to better understand myself as a student and as an athlete,” Ms Holt said.
“The QUT - AIS scholarship means that I can continue studying and training at the same time.”
As an Australian representative at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, weightlifter, Matthew Lydement has already experienced the benefit of attending QUT which supports elite athletes.
“QUT were very supportive in the lead up to the Olympics last year, and continued to support me afterwards, to represent Australia, compete at an elite level and complete my studies at the same time,” Mr Lydement said.
"The QUT - AIS scholarship will help me continue to balance my study and sporting commitments."
Fellow recipient, Samuel Short is looking forward to continuing to excel as a long-distance swimming champion with the support of this new scholarship.
“The QUT – AIS scholarship will help me achieve my Commonwealth Games dream this year,” Mr Short said.
“It'll help me focus on my swimming without any distractions.”
AIS Director Matti Clements said the AIS was pleased to see the scholarship being awarded to such deserving athletes within the QUT community.
“The AIS encourages Australian athletes to develop education pathways to enable them to learn, thrive and contribute to the community during their time in high performance sport and life afterwards.
QUT’s Executive Director of Student Services and Wellbeing Adam Williams said the scholarships will enhance the student athlete experience whilst providing greatly needed resources to future Australian representatives.
“This scholarship will alleviate some of the financial pressures experienced by athletes, whilst building closer alignments between the University and Australia’s peak sporting bodies,” Mr Williams said.
“As QUT is a member of the Elite Athlete Network (EAN) we are proud to support these talented athletes.”
QUT sport scholarships are spread over a number of categories to support athletes at all levels of performance. In addition to the 10 AIS - QUT Scholarships, 44 recipients from various sporting backgrounds have received esport, elite and development scholarships in 2022.
Media contact:
Natassja Sharp, QUT Media, 07 3138 1842, natassja.sharp@qut.edu.au
After hours: 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au