Applications are now open for $30,000 higher education scholarships available to students from dairy communities.
Every year the Gardiner Dairy Foundation offers seven tertiary scholarships to students starting full-time study.
To be eligible, the students need to be pursuing careers which will directly benefit the dairy industry or dairy communities.
Each scholarship offers up to $10,000 a year for three years.
Gardiner Dairy Foundation chief executive Clive Noble said the scholarships were an investment in people from dairy communities who will contribute to the “vibrant dairy industry”.
“We encourage students to return to dairy regions to share their new skills,” Dr Noble said.
“The scholarships help to overcome the significant financial disadvantages faced by rural students moving away from home to study.”
Former scholarship recipients have benefitted from being able to dedicate themselves to study without having to rely on part-time work.
The seven scholarships are named after dairy industry stalwarts: Niel Black, Shirley Harlock, Jakob Malmo, Bill Pyle, and Doug Weir.
Veterinary graduate Mitchell Dodds received the Jakob Malmo scholarship in 2014 and this year achieved his dream of becoming a practising vet at West Gippsland Vet Care in Warragul, Victoria.
“From a financial point of view, the Gardiner Dairy Foundation Tertiary Scholarship enabled me to really focus on my degree,” Mr Dodds said.
“It’s difficult to work while studying veterinary medicine when you have 50 contact hours a week in the first two years.”
Hayden Jones, recipient of the Bill Pyle scholarship in 2013, said the scholarship helped him in moving to Melbourne and living on-campus.
“It meant I didn’t have to find a part-time job to support myself. I know some people who kept up part-time work while they studied but I would have really struggled to do that,” Dr Jones said.
“Moving from the country to the city was all new to me but because of the scholarship I could live on campus and get easy access to tutors and resources.”
Applications must be submitted by December 3.
For more information, visit: https://gardinerfoundation.typeform.com/to/LrK1j9. Completed applications must be submitted to: scholarships@gardinerfoundation.com.au