La Trobe University has welcomed the creation of a perpetual scholarship honouring Aiia Maasarwe.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar today announced they had jointly set up the scholarship, coinciding with a visit to Australia by Aiia's father Saeed.
Scholarship recipients will receive the equivalent of up to $68,000 a year or up to $272,000 over four years.
Professor Dewar said University staff had been working with the Andrews Government and Aiia's family to find the most appropriate ways to remember her, and had agreed the creation of the Aiia Maasarwe Scholarship at La Trobe University was one way to provide a lasting tribute.
"We are honoured to work with Daniel Andrews to help deliver on the family's wishes for a scholarship in Aiia's name. The life-changing power of education was very important to Aiia and to her family. This scholarship will create new opportunities and leave long-lasting benefits for generations of young people."
"The La Trobe community will always remember Aiia as an intelligent, warm and generous student. We are honoured to partner with the State Government to deliver the Aiia Maasarwe Scholarship program in perpetuity and thank Premier Andrews for supporting this initiative."
The Aiia Maasarwe Scholarship will be offered to financially disadvantaged students to either study a three-year undergraduate degree in any subject or undertake a four-year PhD research project specifically into the safety of women and girls.
The scholarship is jointly funded. The Andrews Government has committed $700,000 to a scholarship endowment fund which will be managed by the University and create a $35,000 stipend income stream. La Trobe will waive $33,000 in annual fees, which is the equivalent endowment of $660,000, bringing the total contribution to $1.36 million.
The scholarship will be offered for study in 2020, with applications opening in early November 2019.
