15 Apr 2021
Each year, the ACT Education Directorate delivers the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Secondary Scholarships Program to support students in Years 11 and 12 with financial assistance in their final years of secondary study.
At a ceremony held on 26 March, Yvette Berry MLA, Minister for Education and Youth Affairs and Director General Katy Haire presented awards to our newest scholarship recipients.
The event was a celebration of emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, their achievements past and present and their ongoing success as they progress in their learning journey.
Each of the students have bright futures ahead, from plans to undertake further study in marine biology and music to hairdressing - it’s hoped that the scholarships will support them as they continue working towards these goals.
The ceremony was attended by high school and college students, parents, members of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, staff from the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and the Education Directorate.
Former ACT public school student, scholarship recipient and guest speaker at the ceremony, Jye Hopkins, spoke about how his own scholarship allowed him to further develop his passion for music and focus on his studies in his final years of college. Jye has now been accepted into further study at university.
The ceremony also featured outstanding musical performances by three talented Dickson College students.
The 2021 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Secondary Scholarship recipients are:
- Colby Jones – Canberra High School
- Enya Taylor – Hawker College
- Kiara Tomkins – Erindale College
- Ashton Hopkins – Lyneham High School
- Rebecca Guest – Hawker College
- Samuel Maynard – Dickson College
- Hayly Fitzpatrick – Lyneham High School
- Bailey Sorenson – UC College Lake Ginninderra
- Kai Chalmers – Lyneham High School
- Illiana Fogarty – Calwell High School
- Lillian Fromyhr – Dickson College
Congratulations to all the students who were recognised on Friday.