Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) announced the winners of the 2021 Audi Foundation - CEF Alumni Awards during a live, free virtual event on Saturday 23rd October, 2021. After another very difficult 12 months, the online event gave past and present recipients, volunteers, families and passionate stakeholders the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of more than 6000 rural and regional youth the organisation has supported since 1993.
CEF Chief Executive Officer, Juliet Petersen says she is thrilled with the momentum the awards have gained since inception in 2018. "The level of engagement from not only our foundations but our communities and the friends and families of our recipients this year has just been extraordinary. We received more than 50 nominations across the five categories which is a testament to the talent and dedication of our rural and regional youth, and to the impact they have on the lives of others."
Audi Foundation – CEF Alumnus of the Year, $500
Kimberly Becker, Kapunda High School Centenary Foundation
Audi Foundation - CEF Community Alumni Champion, $250
Jemma Burrell, Coonamble & District Education Foundation
Audi Foundation - CEF Young Achiever, $250
Brianna Kerr, Country Education Foundation of Snowy Monaro
Audi Foundation - CEF Rising Star $250
Axel Nurdin, Shoalhaven Education Fund
Audi Foundation - CEF Launching Star $250
Cody Logan, Country Education Foundation of Orange & Districts
Alumnus of the Year, Kimberly Becker says: "I am deeply humbled and honoured to win this award. I can't quite believe that I am going to join the group of past winners of this award who are all such inspiring and incredible people!" She joins previous winners Dr. Ceridwen Boel, Lee Constable and Brooke Kaveney, all wonderful, young regional women building successful careers in STEM.
Kimberly was supported from 2014 to 2017 by the Kapunda High School Education Centenary Foundation in South Australia, a member of the CEF local foundations network. She has since obtained a Master of Philosophy (Pure Mathematics), and is now a PhD Candidate at the University of Oxford in England. Kim is passionate about the promotion of women in STEM and mathematics.
Chair of the Kapunda Foundation Anne Hornsey says: "Kim has always expressed gratitude for the support she has received, and we are very proud of her and believe she is very deserving of recognition for all her achievements."
Audi Foundation have partnered with CEF since their establishment in 2017, supporting rural and regional youth to access post-school education. Paul Sansom, Chairman of the Audi Foundation made the exciting announcement during the event on Saturday night that the Foundation will continue to partner with CEF for another two years.
Head of Audi Foundation, Hayley Nissim is a true advocate for the work of CEF. "The real, tangible results we see through our work with CEF, made it an easy decision to continue the partnership. Having seen the incredible achievements of tonight's winners and the passion they inspire in their communities, we are proud to support CEF and the alumni awards."
