Thank you
You are among a community of 336 donors who have supported the Gus Wiles Scholarship Fund. Since its launch in 2010, more than $409,000 has been raised.
This endowment is now worth more than $590,000 and ensures that Gus Wiles’s legacy continues in perpetuity (for further information on how UQ is investing in our shared future, please see below. Your outstanding contributions have allowed The University of Queensland and chemical engineering to achieve sustainable success, creating a meaningful difference in the lives of many students.
Because of the generous gift you and the community of donors have given, many students have been supported through the Gus Wiles Scholarship Fund. The fund has allowed these students access to study overseas, enhancing their learning experience and opening up an appreciation of diverse perspectives from across the world.
Your gift to this fund has ensured that Gus’s commitment to chemical engineering at UQ and the students who study with us continues on into the future.
Thank you for all you have done to advance the opportunities and experiences of our students, so that they can continue to thrive and positively shape the future.
Impact at a glance
|
$409,137 |
13 |
571 |
78% |
Almost 6% |
The Legacy of Gus Wiles
For over 40 years Gus Wiles was the heart and soul of the School of Chemical Engineering at The University of Queensland. He was the ‘go-to’ person for students, colleagues and industry alike.
Gus encouraged his students to undertake semesters abroad at international universities to broaden their engineering knowledge and skills – something he often personally provided financial assistance for.
The Gus Wiles Scholarship Fund was established in 2010 to support chemical engineering students to engage in overseas exchange programmes, to develop life skills and to enhance their global learning experience.
Gus’s legacy is secured in perpetuity with this endowment fund. The endowment fund is a permanent tribute to Gus and his values, that is now secured for future generations.
Stories of success
A life-changing experience
Geethu George was awarded the Gus Wiles Scholarship in 2017. The scholarship supported her exchange program to Imperial College London. She attended classes, participated in large team projects and attended lectures, one of which was presented by Professor Stephen Richardson, who was a key expert witness on the Piper Alpha incident investigation. She met challenges moving to a big city and adjusting to a new environment, however got used to the endless things to do and most importantly the diversity and idea of being a Londoner “because that idea is not limited to one kind of person”. In addition, she experienced new food, a new culture and trips to Bath and Stonehenge to learn about British history.
“My year abroad at Imperial College London has been a life-changing experience. I decided to do the integrated BE/ME program at UQ because I could see the value in having a Master’s degree as a result of my exchange. I truly believe that I wouldn’t have been able to go on exchange if it weren’t for the Gus Wiles Scholarship. I was able to independently fund my studies and life in London and I feel prepared for my future as a Chemical Engineer. Thank you!”
Friendships made
Kailin Graham was awarded the Gus Wiles Scholarship in 2018. He spent a semester of his Chemical and Environmental Engineering degree at McGill University in Montreal. Taking courses in Reactions Engineering, Catchment Hydrology and Chemical Engineering Statistics, one of his greatest challenges was adapting to the different teaching styles, resource availability and assessment formats; for example online resources he was used to at UQ such as lecture slides and recordings were not made available. After falling behind in trying to get the hang of the new systems and learning styles, he found that "having to adapt like this and leave my comfort zone with regards to my study definitely improved my problem-solving skills and my ability to learn on the fly."
“Adapting to the new city, the new language and living out of home for the first time (not to mention the cold – never thought an Australian could survive -23°C) was also a challenge but one that I found very rewarding. I think I’ve developed a huge number of ‘life skills’ and now have further broadened my cultural horizons and global awareness…. But what I will probably cherish most from my time abroad was the friendships I made with people from all over the world – aside from Canadians I made friends with other exchange students from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, the USA, Ireland and France. I am extremely grateful to UQ and the Wiles family for their generosity in supporting me along this adventure, and I hope that future recipients of the Gus Wiles Scholarship will have as rewarding an experience as I was able to.”
Global citizen
Prudence Burnett was awarded the Gus Wiles Scholarship in 2018 and participated in the UQ Abroad program, travelling to the University of South Carolina where she was able to take courses in Chemical Reaction Kinetics and Chemical Dynamics.
Prudence said the "highlight of my exchange was experiencing the plethora of American College sports. College football is worshipped in the south so naturally consumed much of our time. Game days started with a pre-game tailgate with 5,000 of our closest friends, followed by a 3+ hour football game, before concluding with a post-game sulk or celebration. Adopting to the Southern way of life, friend chicken, mac-and-cheese and Coca-Cola were integral components of our everyday diet."
“My experience has highlighted how important it is to be a global citizen in the world today and has given me the opportunity to appreciate many diverse perspectives. I am grateful to the donors to the Gus Wiles Scholarships for gifting me with this fantastic experience.”
The legacy lives on
We are delighted to inform you that your gift has contributed to supporting the goal needed to endow the fund and therefore establish these scholarships forever. The philanthropic donations will sit in an endowed fund, generating ongoing revenue streams creating greater and greater impact over time. Thanks to your support we will now see many more students access the opportunities like Kailin Graham, Geethu George and Prudence Burnett.
Gus was fiercely proud of and incredibly humbled by the support shown by alumni and friends since the fund was established in 2010 and now his legacy can continue to live on and many more students will continue to benefit for years to come.
The Equity and Opportunity Endowment Fund
Whilst the Gus Wiles Scholarship Fund will continue to be open for donations, we are also delighted to announce the launch of a new priority fund for The University of Queensland to support chemical engineering.
The Equity & Opportunity Endowment Fund has been established to support a range of School activities including:
- Provide opportunities for women in chemical engineering
- Provide opportunities for low SES students and those suffering financial hardship
- Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to pursue careers in chemical engineering
- Provide more opportunities for students to attend study tours, industry placements and conferences
- Support the purchase of plant and equipment to ensure students have access to world-class teaching resources and facilities.
Your previous donation to The University of Queensland and chemical engineering has made a huge impact. If you would like to continue to support the school’s activities and play a part in shaping its future, then we would welcome your gift.
Investing in our shared future
UQ Endowment Performance 2018
What is an endowment?
Philanthropy has been integral to the University’s ability to create change in society for more than a century. Endowments ensure donors’ transformative impact will be felt for generations to come.
While some donors choose to direct their gift immediately to their chosen cause, others prefer an endowment approach. Endowments are gifts that continue to give to their designated purpose in perpetuity. This method involves steadily growing an investment fund that in turn delivers dividend payments, creating greater funding benefits over time.
Endowment performance
During 2018, the investment fund grew from $218 million to $224.3 million.
The investment strategy used by the University’s designated fund managers is to ensure long term growth and it is UQ’s intent to grow the principal to one that rivals our peer institutions around the world.
$224.3M
In the uq investment portfolio for the year ending 31 December 2018
12.16%
Seven year average return
(2.13%)
Return for the year ending 31 December 2018 consistent with industry average