Fifteen high achieving students have been selected from more than 120 applicants for Blacktown City Council's Tertiary Scholarship Awards.
The recipients are pursuing careers in fields ranging from construction management to veterinary medicine and were among 24 applicants interviewed by an independent judging panel.
For the first time, the awards included a First Nations scholarship. This was presented to Bilal Shah of Rooty Hill, who is studying for a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Sydney.
Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting was impressed by the calibre of the recipients.
"Our community is producing ambitious and dedicated students who are keen to build successful careers," he said.
"Tertiary education can be expensive and the Tertiary Scholarship Awards is one way Council is supporting our young people to achieve their ambitions.
"I hope our recipients are one day able to put the knowledge and skills from their studies into practice in Blacktown City."
Each scholarship is worth $1,500.
Among them is the annual Anne Aquilina Scholarship, named after the Blacktown physiotherapist and late wife of the first Mayor of Blacktown City Council the Hon John Aquilina.
This scholarship is awarded to a talented student in the health field. The 2024 recipient was Jasmine James-Howard of Rouse Hill who is studying for a Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) and Doctor of Medicine degree at Western Sydney University.
Tertiary Scholarship Awards recipients also included:
- Madelyn Attard of Blacktown, Bachelor of Professional Accounting and Bachelor of Laws at Macquarie University
- Sunaina Bakshi of Schofields, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at University of Sydney
- Aatish Budhwani of Parklea, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at University of Sydney
- Aryellah Dal Broi of Stanhope Gardens, Bachelor of Education (Secondary) at University of Notre Dame
- Belinda Ellard of Doonside, Diploma of Community Services at Wetherill Park TAFE
- Iris Fok of Glenwood, Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at University of Sydney
- Arsh Gupta of Colebee, Bachelor of Computing Science (Honours) at University of Technology Sydney
- Ari Laaksonen of Kings Langley, Bachelor of Construction Management Advanced (Honours) at Western Sydney University
- Kashish Madhani of Quakers Hill, Bachelor of Laws at Australian Catholic University
- Taylah Scutts of Glenwood, Master of Public Health (Research) at Macquarie University
- Shahim Shabbir of Mount Druitt, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at University of Sydney
- Christopher Sidaros of Stanhope Gardens, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) and Master of Pharmacy Practice at University of Sydney
- Demi Spiteri of Schofields, Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and Bachelor of Laws at Australian Catholic University
Applications are open for 2025 scholarships.
Applicants must live in Blacktown City, have completed a full year of study in 2024 and be continuing their studies.
More details are available on the Council website: 2024 Tertiary Scholarship Program - Blacktown City (nsw.gov.au).
