Council has 13 scholarships on offer for 2016, each valued at $2500 for one year.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said he is overwhelmed at the continued support from the local business community, with two new category additions for 2016.

Cessnock District Learning Centre has come on board to provide the nursing and information technology scholarships.

“The scholarships aim to assist students in reaching their potential and to make meeting the cost of education a little easier,” Cr Pynsent said.

“Previous winners have gone on to achieve great things in their respective fields and it’s great to be able to offer a helping hand to cover expenses such as textbooks or travel.”

The scholarships are open to students from Year 10 through to TAFE and University who currently reside in the Cessnock local government area.

Categories include:

- Austar Coal Mine (Yancoal Australia Group) mining technical engineering scholarship

- Cessnock Retired Mineworkers mining scholarship

- The Rotary Club of Cessnock Building and Associated Trades scholarship

- Cessnock Leagues Club John Knipe Memorial hospitality and tourism scholarship

- Kurri Rotary John Clarence Memorial arts scholarship

- Donaldson Coal mining scholarship

- Donaldson Coal medical health scholarship 

- Hunter Resource Recovery post-HSC scholarship

- Hunter Resource Recovery undergraduate scholarship

- Solo Resource Recovery TAFE scholarship

- Kurri Retired Mineworkers Association local government scholarship

- Cessnock District Learning Centre nursing scholarship

- Cessnock District Learning Centre information technology scholarship

Students can apply in multiple categories and there are no restrictions on previous recipients or applicants re-applying if they are still eligible.

Application forms are available from www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/council/mayor/scholarships and are due Friday, February 26, 2016.

For more information, go to council’s website or call Gina Radford on 4993 4210.