A Buderim student with a talent for mathematics and an interest in engineering has received a $32,000 Thompson Excellence Scholarship from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Brooklyn Cundy, 18, has enrolled in a Mechanical Engineering (Honours) degree at USC, after excelling in maths and science as a student at Maroochydore State High School.

Brooklyn was one of four undergraduate students to receive the prestigious scholarships, which are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and leadership.

As well as achieving an OP2, Brooklyn was a student leader in high school and was involved in charity fundraising and community service activities like Clean Up Australia Day.

She said she was extremely grateful for the scholarship that has been funded through a generous $5 million gift to the University by Roy and Nola Thompson.

“It will take a lot of financial pressure off me so I can focus more on my studies and take up as many opportunities as I can in my degree,” she said.

“I had the chance to meet Mr and Mrs Thompson and they were lovely and really interested in what we were all studying.”

Brooklyn said she chose to study engineering as it was a practical application of mathematics, a subject she had excelled in during high school.

“My dad is a bit of a tech entrepreneur and I always found what he did quite interesting. So that’s probably why I was drawn to Mechanical Engineering,” she said.

“At the moment I’m not sure exactly what direction I’d like to take in my career, but I want to make the most of all the experiences available at USC.”

The Thompson Excellence Scholarships were presented for the first time in 2015 and will continue to be awarded on an annual basis.

— Gen Kennedy