Elly Mackay
29 September 2020: Eleven elite athlete students from the University of Canberra have been awarded the Eldon and Anne Foote Elite Athlete Scholarship.
The students — many of whom were Tokyo bound Olympians — received the $10,000 scholarship as part of the University’s commitment to support the elite athlete cohort.
University of Canberra Director of Sport Carrie Graf says the University’s commitment to elite athlete students has never been stronger.
“At UC, we aim to do everything possible to ensure our Elite Athlete student cohort is supported,” Ms Graf said.
“This scholarship means these students are able to achieve the balance needed to thrive academically and athletically.”
The scholarship aims to help recipients achieve a balance between student and athlete life – a feat that isn’t always easy.
“Many of the athletes receiving these awards were Tokyo-bound Olympic Athletes. Although their timelines or goals may have changed in the short-term, ensuring that they remain supported – particularly in these circumstances – is our priority,” Ms Graf said.
To accommodate the changes in athletes’ training schedules, and to ensure they remain supported despite their competition timelines being largely unknown, the number of scholarships awarded in 2020 have been expanded to ensure more student athletes are still able to meet their goals.
It will be distributed to recipients as a lump sum – rather than split into two payments, as is usually done.
Recipients include Harrison Lloyd, who recently won the Super Rugby AU title with the Brumbies and UC Capitals player and Australian representative Keely Froling, who helped the UC Capitals earn a record-breaking ninth WNBL Championship earlier this year.
Mr Lloyd is completing his Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science and Bachelor of Sport Management, while Ms Froling is close to finishing her Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree.
"Over the last few years it's been difficult to find a balance between playing rugby and studying," Mr Lloyd said.
"Receiving the scholarship has taken a bit of the pressure off — particularly with COVID-19 money has been tight for a lot of people — it is less of an issue to have to find work externally, and allows me to focus on both rugby and my studies."
Ms Froling echoed Mr Lloyd's statements.
"Studying and being a professional athlete can definitely have its challenges, especially when we're travelling a lot," she said.
"As a female athlete especially we don't earn a lot of money, so I've always had to have part-time jobs. There's only so many hours in the day to work, study and train - so this scholarship makes it easier to find a balance in life."
For many of the scholarship recipients, the opportunity to have a donor invest in them – particularly this year – is invaluable.
“It is thanks to the generous support of our donors that the Eldon and Anne Foote Elite Athlete Scholarship is able to be awarded to these stand-out athletes,” Ms Graf said.
The Eldon and Anne Foote Elite Athlete Scholarship is awarded in addition to the University’s long-standing elite athlete program, further affirming UC’s place as a sporting and athlete friendly university.
Eldon and Anne Foote Elite Athlete Scholarship recipients:
Harrison Lloyd – Rugby Union, Brumbies
Keely Froling – Basketball, UC Capitals and Australia 3v3
Keely Small – Athletics (800m), Athletics Australia
Claudia Obst – Rugby Union, UC7s, Brumbies (Super W)
Jessica Bell – Athletics (Javelin), Athletics Australia
Mikaela Stevens – Volleyball, Volleyball Australia
Alison Bai – Tennis, Tennis Australia
Ari Gesini – Athletics (Long Jump), Paralympics Australia
Joshua White – Softball, Softball Australia
Kate Eckhardt – Canoe Slalom, Paddle Australia
Freya Brent – Handball, Handball Australia
