Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) and Verto are excited to announce the six scholarship recipients undertaking an apprenticeship, traineeship or vocational education.
The six 2023 Verto - CEF Scholarships are awarded to:
Riley Menzel - Certificate III Electrotechnology, TAFE Elizabeth - Kapunda High School Centenary Education Foundation
Whitney Cheffirs - Certificate III Early Education and Care, MADEC - Kangaroo Island Country Education Fund
Samuel Bourke - Diesel Mechanic, Major Training/Golden West - Country Education Foundation of Paroo
Thomas Evans - Certificate III Carpentry, TAFE - Hastings Education Fund
Claire Miller - Certificate III Agricultural Mechanical Technology, TAFE Orange - Country Education Foundation of Orange
Hamish Napier - Certificate IV Building and Construction, TAFE Grenfell - Country Education Foundation of Grenfell
VERTO is an award winning, not-for-profit organisation assisting businesses and individuals with all their apprenticeship, employment and training needs.
Student Spotlight - Riley Menzel
Kapunda's Riley Menzel has been awarded one of six 2023 Verto – CEF Scholarships, which he has put towards his studies and apprenticeship in electrotechnology.
Local Foundation:
Kapunda High School Centenary Education Fund
Course Studying:
Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management
Institution:
Mr Menzel was one of six students to be awarded the scholarship this year, who have each received $2000 to put towards their studies.
He is completing the first of a four-year apprenticeship with Kurt Smith, Barossa & Light Electrical in Roseworthy, SA, and recently completed a Certificate III in Electrotechnology at TAFE Elizabeth.
In addition to the scholarship, he was also awarded $1250 by his local CEF foundation, Kapunda High School Centenary Education Foundation (KHSCEF).
His funding has helped him cover costs related to his education and apprenticeship, which he estimated at $6500.
He said the funding had already been a big help for them, helping him pay for travel, tools, equipment, uniforms and textbooks.
Receiving a local CEF grant and VERTO scholarship has given me the opportunity to purchase the tools and other things I need for my job every day, without too much financial stress.
– Riley Menzel
He said his future goal was to become a fully qualified electrician, a profession he said he set his heart on after completing work experience with an electrician.
"I am very grateful for this great support from VERTO, CEF and my Kapunda Foundation. When I qualify, I am looking forward to basing myself in a regional area to help fill the gap of tradespeople in country South Australia," he said.
KHSCEF Chairman, Barry Vogt, said Mr Riley was a worthy recipient of the funding.
"It is pleasing that a Kapunda student is a beneficiary of this national CEF/VERTO award through our membership of the Country Education Foundation of Australia," he said.
The Verto - CEF Scholarship is part of CEF Australia's CEF Extra program, which provides additional support to eligible students who have already been awarded a grant by their local CEF foundation.
It offers $2000 to students from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Northern Territory who are undertaking a traineeship, apprenticeship or vocational education.
Verto CEO, Ron Maxwell, said its partnership with the Country Education Foundation allowed it to offer great benefits for eligible students, with support now reaching $20,000 over two years.
"We know there are additional challenges for rural and regional students that can lead to education and employment gaps and have a range of impacts on entire communities. The work CEF is doing, through its local foundations, to close these gaps is vital and incredibly worthy of our support," he said.
The Verto - CEF Scholarship is part of CEF Australia's CEF Extra program, which provides "extra" support to eligible students who have already been awarded a grant by their local CEF foundation.
