University of Wollongong students and acoustic musicians Anthea Jirgens, Timothy Scott and Charles Prior with Broden Tadros. Picture: ROBERT PEET
University of Wollongong students will hold an acoustic music competition tomorrow as part of a wider effort to make tertiary education more equitable for South Coast teens.
All funds raised from the event, to be run at the UniBar tomorrow night, will go towards In2Uni scholarships.
The scholarship program, in its second year, will assist incoming UOW students from low socio-economic backgrounds with the costs of starting university.
Competition organiser and commerce student Broden Tadros said a number of events were being run by students enrolled in a public relations subject in an effort to raise $25,000.
The 30 groups have organised sausage sizzles, a prom night and a treadmill competition.
"My group of four students decided to put on an acoustic competition as the UOW band comp is so successful, but we wanted to provide an opportunity for purely acoustic artists," Mr Tadros said.
"Acoustic music is raw, it's simple and it brings people together. We've got nine acts confirmed so far for the competition and it's going to be a great, chilled-out event."
The winner on the night will receive a free recording session at Silver Sound Studio in Wollongong and the chance to perform at the UniBar's end-of-exams party.
"These scholarships provide an awesome opportunity for students to have a successful start to university and higher education."
UOW Schools Outreach and Mentoring program co-ordinator Kylie Austin said the In2Uni scholarships were part of a wide-ranging program to encourage students from low socio-economic backgrounds to aspire to university.
"The In2Uni program is a partnership between UOW and the Department of Education and Communities," Ms Austin said.
"We are working with students from 35 primary and 20 secondary schools from Bellambi to Bega.
"The program is about helping students realise the opportunities and options available to them once they finish high school."
The scholarships were initiated last year, when 14 were awarded. Ms Austin said once university offers were made for 2013, eligible students would be invited to apply.
"The scholarships, worth $1000 each, are awarded in late January," she said.
Doors open for the acoustic competition at 5.30pm.
