A SELECT group of Year 9 students from the Ipswich region have been awarded major scholarships to help them in their final years of college study.
Three female students from Bellbird Park State Secondary College, two from Redbank Plains State High School and another from Bremer State High School have each won a $20,000 Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship.
Frances Tyson, Hannah Payne and Trinity Mulheron from Bellbird were among nearly 60 promising female students in Queensland public schools to be selected for Harding Miller scholarships. Amanda Oliphant and Erica Manalo from Redbank also won scholarships, as did Alicia Barling from Bremer.
The scholarships provide each recipient with more than $20,000 worth of assistance over four years.
More than 700 Year 9 students applied for the scholarships this year, which are for young women who are passionate about their studies, but who may lack opportunities to achieve their academic potential and dreams.
Through the scholarships, girls are supported in a variety of practical ways including with equipment, computers, internet connections, textbooks, tutoring and coaching, which they may otherwise not have access to.
The girls said the scholarships would help them overcome potential obstacles to their future academic pursuits.
Frances Tyson said the scholarship means opportunity, inspiration and a chance to achieve so much more.
Hannah Payne said it would help her academically and help provide a better future.
“I feel so lucky to have this privilege and I am grateful for the chance I have been given.”
Trinity Mulheron said the Harding Miller Education Foundation was a promising initiative which assisted female students who were experiencing financial difficulties and hardships.
Harding Miller Foundation Executive Director, Cara Varian, said the scholarship recipients all had high academic potential.
They are talented and dedicated, but they simply do not currently have access to the resources that they need to make the most of their education opportunities,
“Girls are more likely to complete high school and go on to pursue further education when they are supported with equipment, money for resources, tutoring and coaching, and that’s the type of support we are providing to these students.
“We want to support these young women to stay in school and to have the option going to university.”
Ms Varian said the Harding Miller Education Foundation focused on supporting the girls’ basic needs to complete their high school education.
