Future educator Alex Rowbotham knows firsthand what a difference scholarships make to a rural student’s capacity to take up tertiary study.
CEF launched a brand new online scholarship platform in August, thanks to the support of Macquarie University and Origin Foundation. The platform is part of a range of website upgrades made possible by the generosity of the Thyne Reid Foundation.
We caught up with former Eureka Benevolent Foundation University Scholarship recipient Alex Rowbotham.
I received a $10,000 scholarship last year and it made all the difference to me even going to university. I come from Broken Hill and no one in my family had ever been to uni before, so it was a pretty big decision.
Alex’s scholarship made it possible for him to relocate to Mildura to take up the opportunity to study for a teaching degree at La Trobe University.
“The financial support has helped with rent, transport costs and also the purchase of textbooks.
“Most importantly to me it’s also meant I didn’t have to work in my first year and could really concentrate on getting my degree off to the best start possible.”
Receiving the Eureka Scholarship from CEF has also opened Alex’s eyes to other scholarship opportunities that are out there.
“It gave me the confidence to apply for more scholarship help. Having that great first year scholarship meant I could study hard and get good grades, which then in turn opened up other support opportunities.”
Alex is passionate about country kids having more access to further education opportunities and his goal is to teach in rural areas.
“I want to give regional students the best chance of education and access to resources they may not be aware of.”
Recent Comments