Educational Support Fund 2017 Awards
Mirboo North & District Community Foundation
supports seven students entering tertiary education.
On Friday evening at the Baromi Centre in Mirboo North, the Community Foundation held its 2017 Educational Support Fund Awards, to celebrate the achievements of and present awards to seven students from our District totalling $16,000. Each of the award winners have just commenced the following courses and we wish them all the best on behalf of the whole community:
– Riona Beyer from Allambee is starting her BA in Science (Biomedical) at Monash University
– Carina Beyer from Allambee is starting her MA in Writing and Publishing at RMIT
– Skye Billing from Boolarra is starting a Cert III in Business at Open Colleges Australia
– Jemma Lade from Yinnar is starting a BA in Social Science (Psychology) at RMIT
– Beau Linforth from Mirboo North is starting a BA Business (Marketing) at Latrobe University
– Dean Linn from Thorpdale is starting a BA in Commerce and Science at Monash University
– Sam McCarthy from Mirboo North is starting a BA in Engineering & Commerce at Monash University
It is often challenging for rural students to move into tertiary education given the financial and emotional implications of taking up a University place in Melbourne or at a distance from home. The Educational Support Fund was launched in 2013 as a sub-fund within our Community Foundation, with the aim of helping these students to continue their education at third level, with financial and community support behind them.
During the evening, Heather Butler, member of the Mirboo North Secondary College Council and referee for one of the successful recipients, spoke about how the recipients have had the courage to choose a field of study, the tenacity to apply to the Educational Support Fund and the humbling experience of asking referee to support that. All of this, she felt, would have helped them develop some social skills and self esteem. She noted that there are more challenges to come as they move away from home, but that they go with a little bit of pride in themselves for being a successful recipient and in the knowledge that they have some financial support to make the process easier.
Heather concluded by saying that there is pleasure and pride in the wider community at being able to assist these students continue their education: “they might be moving away, but they will be wonderful ambassadors for our town and who knows what benefits they and their education might bring back to our district in years to come!”.
Our Community Foundation not only stewards the investment of the proceeds of the sale of Mirboo North’s Aged Care Facility (and distributes the earnings from it), it also holds bequests and donations from individuals and groups of people for distribution to the community for the purposes specified by the donor. The principal contributor to our Educational Support Fund, for example, is the Mirboo North & District Community Bank, and we are very appreciative of this generous on-going contribution from Mirboo North & District Community Bank and its commitment to this program. However other individuals, groups or businesses are very welcome to make a donation to the Educational Support Fund and add further weight to the support we provide to our students transitioning to third level.
For more information contact:
Ruth Rogan, Executive Officer: 0418 301 092 | ruth.rogan@mirboodistrictfoundation.org.au |