In our Student Spotlight Series, we celebrate the achievements of our students and the support that helps make those successes possible. For civil engineering student Dustin Thorne, receiving the Bert and Vera Thiess Scholarship in Civil Engineering has been a defining part of his university journey.
Established in 2019 and supported by the Bert and Vera Thiess Foundation, the scholarship provides meaningful financial support to students as they work towards their future careers. We caught up with Dustin to hear about his experience and the impact the scholarship has had on his studies.
What motivated you to apply for the Bert and Vera Thiess Scholarship in Civil Engineering?
“I first heard about the scholarship when a friend applied the year before, which encouraged me to look into it myself. The idea of being associated with such a well-regarded award really stood out to me. Combined with the financial support it offered to help me complete university, it was all the motivation I needed to apply.”
How has this scholarship supported your studies or career goals?
“The impact has been enormous. The scholarship has taken away a lot of the financial pressure that comes with being a student, which has allowed me to focus much more on my studies. By helping cover essential living costs like rent and food, I’ve been able to spend more time at university instead of working long hours just to get by.”
What opportunities or experiences has it helped you pursue?
“University has opened up so many opportunities to deepen my understanding of civil engineering, but the scholarship has also given me something just as valuable - time and flexibility. It’s allowed me to really enjoy the transition between university and industry. Knowing I didn’t have to stretch every dollar for living expenses has even made it possible to look ahead to experiences like an overseas holiday before starting full-time work.”
What advice would you give to future students considering applying?
“Go for it. Putting yourself out there can only lead to good things. It’s an incredible honour to be associated with this scholarship and with the people who founded and continue to support it.”
Could you share a favourite memory or proud moment from your studies?
“There are so many moments I’m proud of. I’ve loved meeting like-minded people and working on real-life engineering projects, both practical and theoretical. But my proudest moments have been sharing my achievements with my parents and seeing how proud they are. They sacrificed a lot so I could move out of home and come to university, and being able to show them what I’ve achieved has been incredibly meaningful.”
We’re proud of Dustin for receiving this scholarship and all he has achieved, thank the Bert and Vera Thiess Foundation for its continued support of students and the engineering profession.
