Sixteen local students received scholarships at the 2024 Proudly Public! Awards night at Sydney Town Hall yesterday.
They are among more than 300 public school students and educators from across Australia to receive scholarships administered by the Public Education Foundation in 2024.
Since the launch of PEF's scholarships program in 2009 3,218 students and more than 120 educators have been supported with more than $10 million in life-changing scholarships administered by the Foundation.
The local award winners were:
- Jemima Kellet, Callaghan College, Jesmond Senior Campus – Aboriginal Education Council Scholarship
- Savannah Gordon, Callaghan College, Wallsend Campus – Waratah Education Foundation Secondary Transition Scholarship
- Chance NcutiMami, Callaghan College, Waratah Campus – NSW Teachers Federation Refugee Scholarship
- Shanae Ford, Cessnock Public School – Waratah Education Foundation Primary Scholarship
- Harmony Hennessy, Glendore Public School – Waratah Education Foundation Primary Scholarship
- Noah James Worrall, Kotara High School – Acacia Program Scholarship
- Christian Prince, Merewether High School – NSW Teachers Federation Award for HSC Excellence
- Eli J Newland, Glendore Public School / Minmi Public School – Vorsay Scholarship
- Blayne Chandler, Indi Taylor, Rachel Bock and Kelly Belle Dalton, Singleton High School - Woodcock Family Scholarship
- Zarhn Barry Webber, Alley Standing, West Wallsend High School – PEF National Secondary Scholarship
- Izaiah Webber, West Wallsend High School – Unions NSW Jeff Shaw Memorial Scholarship
- Brina Chong Nee, Whitebridge High School – VET in Schools Scholarship
Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said the scholarships could be a game changer for many students and change their life trajectory. "Our world-class public education system empowers our students and can be an equaliser within our society – that's why these scholarships are so important to our students who face disadvantage," Mr Dizdar said. "Thank you to our staff who support student excellence and the Public Education Foundation for its ongoing support of public education in NSW. "I am proud of our students, teachers and leaders who have won scholarships and I look forward to seeing the scholarship recipients go on to achieve outstanding educational outcomes."
Public Education Foundation (PEF) CEO David Riordan further emphasised that the awards celebrated scholarships that had the potential to "change lives". "Proudly Public! celebrates the best and brightest students and educators in our public school system," Mr Riordan said. "We also want to acknowledge our premium partners and other generous and supportive partners and donors who assist us in providing more of these life-altering scholarships."
The Public Education Foundation is a charity dedicated to enhancing the value and reputation of public education by providing scholarships to its students, teachers and principals.
