The scholarships are awarded to young people aged 16 to 25 years to assist in giving them equal opportunity in reaching their education goals.
Shepparton’s Emmerson Dunne said being one of this year’s recipients would allow her to enter her studies without added financial pressure.
“I am just so grateful for my scholarship,” she said.
“It has allowed me to concentrate on my studies without the overwhelming stress of finding money to pay for my education.
“I can work less and enjoy my study to achieve my nursing diploma.“
Miss Dunne attended Notre Dame College and is studying the diploma at Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE in Shepparton as a pathway to study nursing at La Trobe University.
She received the Lift Off Rotary Club of Shepparton Keppel Turnour/Lance Woodhouse Scholarship, established to honour the two local men for their commitment to supporting study in health.
Jenny Sim of Shepparton Rotary Club said it was the vision of long-time members Mr Woodhouse and Mr Turnour to help young people into education as a pathway to achieve their life’s ambition.
“The scholarship is to assist students into study in the medical field, and to make sure Keppel and Lance’s huge input into our community is never forgotten,” she said.
The scholarships are available for approved higher education courses including diplomas and bachelor studies, ranging from $2000 for one year and up to $10,000 over three years.
The program is a response to the increasing number of young people in the region unable to afford the transition from secondary education to post-secondary education.
An Australian Government Department of Education and Training review 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.
Currently only half of the area’s young people finish secondary school and a quarter go on to tertiary education.
Since 2015 more than $470,000 has been allocated to 112 students as part of the scholarship program.
“As we approach 10 years of the project, we will conduct robust evaluation to measure the real-life impact of the scholarships both on the recipients and our community as a whole,” Greater Shepparton Foundation chief executive Cheryl Hammer said.
“Findings will assist us to make key decisions about how Lift Off Scholarships continue in the future.”
The scholarship program is a collaboration between Greater Shepparton Foundation and Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project.
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