Scholarships worth $65,000 were awarded at a ceremony in February to successful applicants of the 2024 Lift Off Education Scholarship program.
Congratulations to Ned Doyle, Mya Jesperson, Cabe Roberts, Elleina Suarez, Charlee Roulston, Caitlin Welch, Tierney McGowan, Tessa McMahon, Ella Hibble, Kaytlin Coonerty, Ella Kightly and Sarah Colliver, who all completed their secondary schooling in the Goulburn Valley and received scholarships ranging from two to three years.
The announcement ceremony not only celebrates the scholarship recipients but also allows the recipients to meet their scholarship sponsor personally and provides recipients the opportunity to connect as they begin their next education journey.
The 2024 scholarships were made possible due to the following generous local sponsors:
Bendigo Bank Connected Community, Early Childhood Professional Development Inc, Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project, Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance, Kyabram Business Scholarship Partners, La Trobe University, Margaret Attwood Trust, Rotary Club of Shepparton South and The Youth Op Shop Cobram.
Including this 2024 cohort, since its inception Lift Off has supported 132 local students in post-secondary education by helping them overcome financial and other barriers to their education aspirations and achieving their full potential.
Lift Off, now in its 10th year, is achieving some beautiful results while opening amazing opportunities for local young people. A 2022 recipient and former Kyabram P-12 College student, Morgan Vella, who received a Lift Off Education Scholarship to undertake a La Trobe business Degree, is now on exchange in Sweden for the final year of his degree.
Morgan is engaging in elective courses focused on Scandinavian history and Swedish business markets.
Morgan is in regular contact with GSF and told us that this opportunity in Sweden was “beyond academic enrichment”.
“Sweden’s distinguished reputation as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, coupled with its renowned academic institutions, presented an unparalleled opportunity for personal and professional growth.”
The scholarships were established in 2014 in response to the increasing number of our young people not being able to afford the transition from secondary education to post-secondary education. A study has shown that young people from non-metropolitan regions in Victoria, such as Shepparton, defer university studies at twice the rate of their metropolitan counterparts, and currently, only half of our young people finish secondary school, and a quarter go on to tertiary education.
In response, Greater Shepparton Foundation partnered with the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project to tackle barriers to further education. With the scholarship celebrating its 10th anniversary, the program has partnered with more than 40 businesses and philanthropic partners to support students over the years.
Lift Off Scholarships are awarded to young people aged 16-25 years for approved higher education courses, including diplomas and bachelor programs, and range from $2000 for one year and up to $10,000 over three years.
The Lift Off Scholarship program welcomes applications for postgraduate studies from students who have taken a gap year, Year 12 students wanting to continue to tertiary study, and now students looking to undertake a pathway course.
More information regarding Lift Off Education Scholarships can be found on the ‘scholarships’ page on the GSF website at www.greatershepparton.foundation
Alternatively, to discuss becoming a sponsor and supporting a local young person to achieve their education aspirations, please email us at info@greatershepparton.foundation
Until next time,
– Amanda McCulloch, GSF Executive Officer