Time is running out for local students to apply for the Cessnock City Council’s 2018 Mayoral Scholarships.
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Applications for the scholarships – valued at $2500 each – close Friday, March 9.
Students enrolled in TAFE or university in 2018 who are residents of the Cessnock local government area are welcome to apply, as are students who are from the Cessnock LGA, but live outside the area to study.
This year’s categories include mining, mining/technical engineering, building and associated trades, hospitality and tourism, local government, TAFE, undergraduate and post-HSC (for students who have graduated from high school in the past two years).
Quorrobolong’s Olivia Palfreyman received the post-HSC scholarship in 2017, and said it opened up an incredible amount of opportunities in her first year of university.
Ms Palfreyman is studying a combined law/social science degree at the University of Newcastle, and hopes to become a child protection lawyer after completing her studies.
She said the scholarship allowed her to buy all the up-to-date textbooks needed for my degrees, which helped her develop the skills necessary to step into volunteer roles in the University of Newcastle Legal Centre.
“This experience has proved invaluable, having now had first-hand experiences of what my career as a lawyer in child protection will look like,” she said.
Ms Palfreyman said the scholarship also covered essential expenses during exam periods, relieving the pressure of having to work each night and freeing up study time – which was rewarded with multiple high distinctions during the year.
“Most importantly to me, however, was that the Mayoral Scholarship allowed me to continue my role in supporting our community’s youth through sports and clubs,” she said.
The Mayoral Scholarships were first presented in 2002, with a total of $515,000 in grants allocated to 202 students over the 16 years.
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent said encouraging and supporting a young person to further their education benefits both the individual and their family.
“Students studying at university or TAFE can often find it difficult managing work and study commitments,” he said.
“Receiving this extra support can make a real difference, taking the pressure off and enabling the student to focus on their studies.”
Applications close Friday, March 9.
For more information and to apply, visit cessnock.nsw.gov.au or call Gina Radford on 4993 4210.
2018 MAYORAL ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP CATEGORIES
- Building and Associated Trades scholarship, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Cessnock (for those studying plumbing, bricklaying, carpentry, architecture etc at TAFE or a Bachelor of Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management, Science etc at university).
- Local Government scholarship, sponsored by Kurri Kurri Retired Mineworkers Association (for those studying to become a planner, engineer, accountant, recreational and community planner, environmental scientist, cultural services officer, media officer etc).
- John Knipe Memorial Hospitality and Tourism scholarship, sponsored by Cessnock Leagues Club.
- Mining scholarship, sponsored by Cessnock Retired Mineworkers.
- Mining/technical engineering scholarship, sponsored by Austar Coal Mine (for those studying mining, electrical, mechanical, process/chemical, geology or geotechnical engineering etc).
- TAFE scholarship, sponsored by Solo Resource Recovery (for students currently studying at TAFE in any field).
- Post-HSC scholarship, sponsored by Hunter Resource Recovery (for those who have graduated in the last two years and are currently studying at TAFE or university).
- Undergraduate scholarship, sponsored by Hunter Resource Recovery (for undergraduate students in any field of study).
