Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) and VERTO are excited to announce 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 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 & District
Hamish Napier – Certificate IV Building and Construction, TAFE Grenfell – Country Education Foundation of Grenfell
VERTO is a not-for-profit organisation delivering a range of apprenticeship, community support, employment and training services to assist individuals, employers and industries.
Student Spotlight – Riley Menzel
Local Foundation:
Kapunda High School Centenary Education Fund
Course Studying:
Certificate III in Electrotechnology
Institution:
TAFE Elizabeth
Kapunda’s Riley 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, owner of 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 Foundation.
His funding has helped him cover costs related to his education and apprenticeship, which he estimated at $6500.
He said the support had already been a big help, paying 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.
Kapaunda High School Centenary Foundation 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 and VERTO award through our membership with Country Education Foundation of Australia,” he said.
Kapunda High School Centenary Education Foundation Chair Barry Vogt with Riley Menzel.
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.
The partnership offers $2000 scholarships 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 CEF allowed it to offer great benefits for eligible students, with support now reaching over $30,000 in recent 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 announcement of our scholarship recipients comes as we prepare to recognise National Skills Week, August 21 to August 27, 2023. Now moving into its thirteenth year, National Skills Week will again set out to bring to life positive messages, highlighting the talents, the skills, the career pathways and the value of apprentices and trainees across Australia to the wider public and employers. The week is dedicated to raising the status of practical and vocational learning. This year’s theme is “What are you looking for?”.
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