Local legacy lives on through scholarship
March 19, 2014
When Sunshine Coast local Les Hall started supplying sand and gravel to the region’s building industry in the 1940s, he never imagined his humble one-man business would grow to become one of Australia’s largest dredging and civil construction contractors, Hall Contracting, with sons Peter and Brian and grandson Cameron Hall at the helm.
Almost 70 years on, the hardworking local’s legacy continues with Hall Contracting awarding a $5,000 education scholarship honouring Les and wife Mary to University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) student Darcy Korn.
Hall Contracting Managing Director Cameron Hall said the company had established the annual scholarship in memory of his grandparents and their achievements, and aimed to recognise the accomplishments of a local student that was looking to enter the dredging or civil engineering industry.
“There are so many talented students in the local area and I think it’s important for local businesses to get behind our future workforce and support them in pursuing their career ambitions,” Mr Hall said.
“Hard work and dedication were two values my grandfather lived by, so the Les and Mary Hall Family Scholarship rewards one student who displays these qualities, delivers a strong academic performance and could use a helping hand in funding their studies.”
Former James Nash State High School student Darcy Korn said he was thrilled to be awarded to the 2014 scholarship after enrolling in a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours).
“I decided to study engineering this year because I’m really interested in this field and wanted to challenge myself as a student,” Mr Korn said.
“I’m planning to put the scholarship funds towards textbooks as well as transport and accommodation costs, which will be really useful over the course of my degree.”
Mr Korn said his achievement of an OP5 at the completion of Year 12 as well as his involvement in USC’s Integrated Learning Engineering program had helped him to secure the 2014 scholarship, and he looked forward to finding out what the future would bring for his engineering career.
“I wouldn’t mind staying on the Sunshine Coast after completing my degree; it really just depends on what opportunities are available when I graduate,” Mr Korn said.
“I’m keen to learn more about various companies that offer engineering positions and determine what kinds of civil engineering work I’d like to pursue in the future.”
Mr Korn is enrolled in his first year of University, and will receive the scholarship funds in instalments throughout his four-year degree.
“I’m hoping to move into student accommodation in the future, so the scholarship funds will be really helpful in contributing to rent costs and allowing me to focus on my studies,” Mr Korn said.
For more information about Hall Contracting and the Les and Mary Hall Scholarship, visit www.hallcontracting.com.au or call (07) 5445 5977.
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Media contact
Kristen Roder, Fresh PR & Marketing
Ph: 0406 546 461
E: kristen@freshprm.com.au
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