Ford Australia is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the Ford Australia Women in Engineering Scholarship program.

Chosen from five universities nationally, the winners are Jean Anderson from The University of Queensland, Shivani Sharma from The University of Sydney, Jemma Wayth from Deakin University, Gemma Duhig from RMIT University and Sophie Dickson from The University of Melbourne.

Selected from 164 applicants, the young women completed school in 2000 and have now commenced university studies. The winners each receive $8,000pa, which is capped at $32,000. Each student is allocated a mentor by Ford Australia, who also acts as a Program Liason representative with the respective university.

Announced last year by Ford Chief Executive Officer, Jacques Nasser, the program encourages women to undertake university studies in various engineering fields, and to pursue a career in engineering. A national campaign was undertaken to promote the scheme within the secondary school sector, and was followed by an extensive interview and selection process.

Angela Wilson, Supervisor of Exterior Trim and Materials Engineering with Ford Australia, is one of the seven Ford female engineers involved as a mentor and university liason for the program. She is excited about the opportunities this program will offer to the prospective engineers.

"The scholarship is about more than just money – the mentoring program will allow the students to gain a practical understanding of engineering in the business world."

"I feel that women are under represented in the engineering profession, particularly in manufacturing. A program like this would have been of great benefit when I started both university and my professional career."