Staff donate for gender diverse community

With their unique first-hand perspective on the impact our University can make to society, our staff are often seen going above and beyond their everyday roles – some even showing their commitment to our mission by donating to a cause they believe in.

An annual highlight for Women on Campus – a gender-diverse AUT staff network with 450 members – is awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a student who supports gender diversity. A total of 24 Women on Campus Millennium Scholarships have been awarded since the group’s beginnings in the mid-80s.

The 2018 award went to a third-year mechatronics engineering student and founder of AUT STEM Women, Amritpal Kaur.

Amritpal told the donors of the scholarship that the award meant a lot to her, telling them: “In two years I hadn’t realised the impact I had made until I was recognised for it, which was amazing.

“I hugely appreciate the women that put the funds together to give this scholarship, it means a lot when you get recognised and it motivates you to give more back.”

Former chair of Women on Campus, Rachel Cleary said Amritpal is an outstanding example of the type of recipient the group enjoys encouraging: “The intention of Women on Campus is to support and empower the broader community and that’s exactly what Amritpal is doing.  She’s building a community and empowering others to flourish within it.”

2018 Women on Campus Millennium Scholarship recipient, Amritpal Kaur.