Two university students from Young are among 55 recipients in NSW awarded Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Foundation scholarships this year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A total of six students from the South West Slopes region made the cut, which included local girls Paige Hall and Georgina Milne.
The rural scholarships are awarded to students originally from rural areas and offer $5000 for full-time study and $2500 for part-time study.
RAS Foundation executive officer Kate Ross said the scholarships support a diverse range of education and training pursuits, and are designed to ease the financial burden of higher education and encourage students who want to make a contribution to rural NSW.
“The RAS Foundation is committed to helping rural Australians realise their potential through education and training. Each year we are impressed with the quality of applicants and inspired by their journeys,” Ms Ross said.
“There are some remarkable stories amongst this group of scholars – they come from a variety of backgrounds and each has a story to tell about why education, as well as giving back to the local community, is so important to them.”
Paige, 18, is studying a double degree in law and criminology at the Australian National University in Canberra.
A natural fascination in reading about the criminal mind drew this first-year student to her chosen field.
On graduation, she looks forward to working with young people to help prevent juvenile crime in regional and rural NSW.
Georgina, 21, is a second year veterinary biology and veterinary science student at Charles Sturt University in Wagga.
She’s always had a passion for animals after growing up on the the family’s mixed farming enterprise.
But it was the two years working as a jillaroo on remote stations in the Northern Territory which cemented her interest in rural Australia.
Georgina’s keen interest in animals is leading her to work in a rural practice once she graduates, so she can have a positive influence on livestock health while maximising herd productivity.
The total value of rural scholarships awarded in 2015 was $267,500.
Since the scholarship program began in 2011, the RAS Foundation has granted over one million dollars to support 227 deserving rural students.