SIX Warrandyte students have been able to kick-start their further education with a scholarship from Warrandyte Community Bank.
Maddy Edsell, Josh White and Zac Ratcliffe have been announced as this year’s scholarship recipients and will join Mitch Dawson, Nik Henkes and Josh McMullen in their second year of financial support.
Passionate about the program, now in its fourth consecutive year, outgoing chairman Sarah Wrigley conducted the evaluation of the scholarship applications.
“We had a fantastic response to the call for applications again this year, our biggest year so far,” Sarah said.
“We had a number of very worthy applicants, and it was a hard decision.”
The Warrandyte Community Bank is proud to support students in their tertiary study. It is part of the branch’s commitment to building a stronger Warrandyte community and another way in which the bank is supporting local youth.
With $5000 to pay for study related expenses such as course fees, equipment, book and travel expenses the scholarship can help ease some of the financial burden.
“It’s a big step moving from school to university and is made much bigger if students have financial issues and other stresses,” Sarah said.
Other stresses have played a significant role in the lives of two of our young 2015 recipients with the loss of a parent. Josh’s mum lost her battle with cancer late last year.
He expressed his gratitude in telling the Diary: “Mum always dreamed of me going to university and chasing my dream job. With the Warrandyte Community Bank scholarship it will make this dream less stressful and more achievable.”
“$5000 will allow me to buy books, and commute to university without the stress of financial burden,” he added.
Josh, Zac and Maddy have all expressed sincere gratitude for the financial support awarded to them by the Warrandyte Community Bank.
Josh and Zac have commenced separate courses in Exercise and Sports Science and Maddy has started her four year degree in Occupational Therapy at Latrobe University.
Maddy sees her scholarship as an honour and a great relief, noting the connection between the bank and our community. She said, “Thanks to the Warrandyte community for supporting our Warrandyte Community Bank”.
In summing up, Sarah said: “I know the board is very proud of its ability to fund these three new scholarships and help Josh, Maddy and Zac in their academic endeavours.”
The annual Warrandyte Community Bank scholarship helps first-year university students on their path to tertiary education with a $10,000 bursary over two years ($5,000 each year). To be eligible, applicants must meet various criterion including residing in the local area, be academically motivated, actively involved in the community and be able to detail financial or social challenges which hinder their ability to undertake further study.
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