The scholarships award the recipients a cheque for $2500 to use towards university and TAFE fees, textbooks, travel costs and related expenses.

Since the scholarships were initiated in 2004, 176 students have been awarded adding up to a total of $440,000.

This year, 41 people applied for the scholarships, with 28 shortlisted for interviews before the final winners were decided.

Past winner of the Donaldson Coal and Austar Coal scholarships, Alexander Gregg was the MC at the event and spoke about how the scholarships have allowed him to move to Newcastle and work fewer hours at a part time job to focus on his studies.

A third-year engineering student, Alexander is also a research assistant and teacher at the university.

St Philip's Christian College performed two musical pieces at the ceremony, a drum item and a mash-up performance.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said he was pleased to be rewarding the hard work of people in the area.

“I congratulate all of our deserving winners and wish all of our applicants the very best with their studies,” he said.

“I am so impressed with the high level of achievement and talent within the Cessnock LGA.”

The winners of the 2015 awards were:

- Austar Coal, Mining Technical/Engineering, Kasey Williams

- Donaldson Coal, Mining, Natasha McEwan

- Donaldson Coal, Medical and Health, Breannen Foster

- Hunter Resource Recovery, Post HSC, Murray Thompson

- Hunter Resource Recovery, Undergraduate, Amanda Teasdale

- John Knipe Memorial, Cessnock Rugby League Supporters Club Incentive, Matt Brazier

- Kurri Kurri Retired Mineworkers Association, Local Government, Laura Bain

- Solo Resource Recovery, TAFE, Abbey Larsen

- The Rotary Club of Cessnock Inc. Building and Associated Trades, Nicholas Hugo

- Kurri Rotary, John Clarence Memorial Arts, Lauren Crawford

- Cessnock City Liquor Accord, Hospitality and Tourism, Joel Troy.