Six Australian students have been awarded a place at Bond University through the Bartercard AustraliaÕs scholarship awards. Worth almost $500,000, the scholarship initiative is open to children of Bartercard franchisees, members and staff. Lauren Buchanan, Kiarah Cuthbert, Nicole Hunt, Christopher Johnson, Kristy Lastelle and Priscilla Phong will all be heading off to study at AustraliaÕs top rated university in 2009.

Trevor Dietz, managing director of Bartercard Australia, said there was a great response to the scholarship programme and the calibre of applicants was extremely high. “Bartercard is extremely proud to be able to offer this opportunity to the children of our members, franchisees and staff to attend one of the countryÕs leading universities.”

Dietz added, “Through this unique arrangement, we are giving the next generation of business leaders an opportunity to study at AustraliaÕs leading private university whose graduates are clearly distinguished in the global workplace for their leadership skills and entrepreneurial flair.”

One winner, Priscilla Phong, said of winning the award, “This is a great opportunity for me to study at Bond University thanks to Bartercard, which Dad has been a member of for a number of years”.

An excited Christopher Johnson also said, “I thought they must have been joking and when I told my mum she nearly fainted.” This is the first group of scholarship winners, and six more will be granted a place to start at Bond University in 2010.