Mayor Ryan Palmer joined representatives from 16 local businesses to present a total of $40,000 to support our most passionate local students at the Port Stephens Mayoral Academic Scholarships.
Twenty deserving young people each received $2,000 to put towards their first year of tertiary education to help them achieve their career aspirations.
Mayor Palmer said he's impressed by the range of fields being studied, including mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, data science, science, medicine, nutrition, biology, business, law and education.
"This is an opportunity to thank our future leaders for their persistence and hard work during a particularly stressful time completing their HSC," Mayor Palmer said.
"The $2,000 can be used to buy a computer or laptop or maybe pay for accommodation or moving costs.
"These scholarships wouldn't happen without the investment of local business. Many of our sponsors have been involved with the Mayoral Academic Scholarships program for many years with some providing funding for 2 scholarships," he added.
This year's sponsors included Ampcontrol, BAE Systems Australia, Business Port Stephens, Club Lemon Tree (2x scholarships), Destination Port Stephens, Hunter Land, Hunter Readymixed Concrete, McDonald Jones, MOJO Homes, Newcastle Airport (2x scholarships), Raymond Terrace Bowling Club, Salamander Bay Recycling (2x scholarships), Soldiers Point Bowling Club, The Wests Group (2x scholarships), Tomago Aluminium and Weathertex.
"I want to thank all of the sponsors for supporting the future leaders of Port Stephens and for giving the students an opportunity to grow their network and connect with local leaders in their own time – invaluable for both business and students," Mayor Palmer said.
"To all of the scholarship winners, good luck stepping into your studies and achieving your 2023 goals.
The 2023 Mayoral Academic Scholarship recipients are:
Callan Astin | Ampcontrol
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) / Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Honours)
Selman Hassan | BAE Systems Australia
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Aerospace Systems Engineering (Honours)
Levi Brown | Business Port Stephens
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Data Science / Bachelor of Computer Science
Alannah Horne | Club Lemon Tree
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program)
Tonaya Hyland | Club Lemon Tree
University of New South Wales – Bachelor of Science - Vision Science
Holly Kennedy | Destination Port Stephens
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics (Honours)
Cooper Lack | Hunter Land
University of Sydney – Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Olivia Squires | Hunter Readymixed Concrete
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Primary Education
Jessiah Barnes | McDonald Jones
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Design (Architecture)
Liliana Seehusen | MOJO Homes
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Jackson Warburton | Newcastle Airport
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Alexander Hankin | Newcastle Airport
Macquarie University – Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Security Studies
Sophie Bennett | Raymond Terrace Bowling Club
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
Mabel Bradbery | Salamander Bay Recycling
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
Samuel Harrop | Salamander Bay Recycling
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Medical Engineering (Honours)
Gabrielle Lewis | Soldiers Point Bowling Club
University of New South Wales – Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours)
Isaac Lyon | The Wests Group
Australian National University – Bachelor of Actuarial Studies / Environment & Sustainability
Ebony Newton | The Wests Group
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science (combined)
William Clark | Tomago Aluminium
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours)
Georgia Sloane | Weathertex
University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Science
Applications for the 2024 Mayoral Academic Scholarships will open later this year.
