The students are: Kimberley Gilbert (Young), Samuel Bush (Cootamundra), Harrison Sellers (Delegate), Claudia Raleigh (Cootamundra) and Eliza Joyce Coles (Boorowa).

Kimberley is a 20-year-old second year Education student at Charles Sturt University focusing on primary and early childhood.

As a proud Indigenous woman, she hopes to educate children, particularly supporting those struggling to learn and understand.

In the future, Kimberley hopes she can use her position as a teacher to inspire young people to engage and lift the spirits of the community.   

The scholarships are awarded to students based on financial need and desire to live, work and contribute to country NSW, and offer $5,000 for full-time study and $2,500 for part-time study.

RAS Foundation Executive Officer, Kate Ross, said this is the most diverse group of students the RAS Foundation has supported since the inception of the program in 2011, and is thrilled the Foundation will again provide a stepping stone for bright futures.

“This year the RAS Foundation will proudly support an incredibly diverse group of talented individuals, all with unique and inspiring backgrounds,” Ms Ross said.

“We have mature aged students, a single father, a Vietnamese refugee as well as a young Indigenous woman, who is the first of 52 grandchildren to attend University.

“The RAS Foundation is committed to helping rural Australians realise their potential through education.

“Each year, we are impressed with the quality of applicants and inspired by their journeys.

“We look forward to supporting these rural-minded students as they work towards achieving their goals,” Ms Ross said.

Applications for the RASF’s 2017 Rural Scholarship open on today and can be accessed online at rasnsw.com.au/foundation.