Donor-funded scholarship elevates university experience for Swinburne student

As a lover of video games and a passionate motorsport fan, Lexi Boan has always been interested in computing technologies with a particular interest in coding and software.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Lexi and many other students at Swinburne are able to pursue their passions.

Lexi is now studying computer science at Swinburne and was one of the recipients of The George Alexander Foundation scholarship which provides commencing students with $8000 per year, for up to three years. 

Having previously received the Vice-Chancellor's Excellence scholarship, Lexi says that The George Alexander Foundation scholarship has helped improve her university experience.  

“The scholarship not only helped keep me financially stable in a time of uncertainty but has also supplemented me with opportunities to broaden my horizons and expand my network and skills through workshops,” she said.

“I learnt a lot about university workload management, which has been incredibly helpful for a first year student like myself.”  

Scholarships are vital in recognising the achievements of talented students and providing an essential bridge to connect them with the opportunity to pursue higher education.  

Founded in 1972, The George Alexander Foundation has provided talented students with access and the opportunity to fulfil their potential through scholarships and grants.  

The George Alexander Foundation scholarships are part of Swinburne’s donor-funded scholarships program. These scholarships are made possible through donor contributions to the university and are both merit and access based. This year marks the awarding of the  200th George Alexander Foundation scholarship at Swinburne, a remarkable donor impact.

Associate Director of Philanthropy Katherine Goldman says that these scholarships can offer more than just financial support.  

“Donors who generously fund scholarships are passionate about a particular area. As well as the funding, scholars are also often able to access vital mentoring and industry connections and internship opportunities. We are very grateful for the generous support of donors making a tangible difference to these capable students.”

“For some, it may be that they are the first person in their family to even finish high school, let alone go to university. Scholarships help break a cycle of educational disadvantage which goes onto change whole communities.” 

For Lexi, the scholarship helped ease the financial pressures of moving out of home for the first time and allowed her to focus more on her studies. For others, scholarships can mean the difference between whether they choose to pursue higher education.  

"These scholarships offer students real opportunities to build a potential future career for themselves,” Lexi said.  

Applications for donor funded scholarships 2025 are now open for applications.