RecipientCourse

Jade GregoryDouble Diploma in Laboratory Technology

Elisa ParkerDiploma and Advanced Diploma in Information Technology

Technology

Holly Munday

Since beginning her study at the Gordon Institute of TAFE, Holly Munday has enjoyed considerable success in both her education and employment. In 2007, while undertaking a Certificate II in Horticulture, Holly was awarded a $3,000 George Alexander Foundation Scholarship. The extra financial assistance provided Holly, a resident of Apollo Bay, with petrol for her commute to Geelong and the tools and equipment required to undertake the course and further her career ambitions.

The extra time to concentrate on her studies has certainly paid off for Holly. In early 2008 Holly was awarded the President’s Medal for the Certificate Student of the Year. The award is an outstanding achievement and recognition of Holly’s commitment to her chosen field of study.

[The] scholarship has seen me both able to enjoy and completely immerse myself in my studies without the stress and worries about how we could sustain my studies and time away from home financially.

In addition to her studies, Holly has established Hollyhock Design, a small business that provides a consultation service for people wanting to create a new garden or improve their existing one. She has her sights on expanding this business to accommodate her small home-based organic nursery. Despite her ongoing work within her fledgling business and her studies, Holly also finds time to work at the Great Ocean Ecolodge at Cape Otway, where she has established a kitchen garden. An active community member in Apollo Bay, Holly is both a designer and Board Member for the Apollo Bay Community

Garden, a wonderful initiative that allows shared family activities and an excellent avenue for children to learn about sustainable gardening.

While the [past] year has been rather chaotic with all that I have undertaken, as well as keeping my most important role as a mother to my wonderful daughter paramount … I would not have had it any other way. The satisfaction I have gained from my access to learning has surpassed all expectations I had held prior to returning to study.

In 2008 Holly is continuing to juggle her ongoing studies with her work and family commitments. The Foundation is proud to count Holly among its impressive list of Foundation Alumni.

Griffith University, Queensland

$75,000 (part of a commitment of $330,000 over five years) to The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Program (2005–2007)

$60,000 (part of a commitment of $900,000 over seven years) to The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Program (2008–2012)

Ms Nicola Collier-Jackson, Director Campus Life www.griffith.edu.au

Griffith University continues to provide outstanding Foundation Scholars. The program was established in 2002 and since that time nearly twenty Scholars have successfully completed their courses and graduated. Successful Scholars demonstrate academic merit and show the potential to be strong community leaders.

Until 2008 five scholarships each year, valued at $22,500 over three years, were provided to students studying at Griffith’s Mt Gravatt campus in Brisbane. The scholarship is specifically designed to cover the accommodation costs involved with students moving from home to complete their degree.

With the rapid growth of Griffith’s Gold Coast Campus, the Foundation recognised the need to expand its support to students outside

Brisbane. In 2008 an additional three scholarships were offered, bringing the total scholarships on offer to eight. The Scholarship Program was opened up to students undertaking their degree at Griffith’s Gold Coast Campus, and in 2008 five Scholars were studying at Mt Gravatt and three at the Gold Coast. The Foundation’s new agreement with Griffith brings its total scholarship commitment with the university to approximately $1.5 million since 2002.

For the fifteen students holding George Alexander Foundation Scholarships, 2007 proved to be another successful academic year, with many of them meeting personal academic and leadership goals. In 2008 scholarship winners will be given further academic and leadership support via the Vice-Chancellor’s Honours College Program.

The George Alexander Foundation 2008 Scholarship Winners

RecipientCourse

Shinead AsheBachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

Kaela CliffordBachelor of Law/Bachelor of Psychology

Jessica CookBachelor of Medical Science

Bantu DierkBachelor of Aviation

Laura DrummondBachelor of Screen and Media Production

Sherinda MurrayBachelor of Biomedical Science

Shanna MustonBachelor of Fine Art

Aja Pymble-WardBachelor of Engineering

(Advanced with Honours)

The George Alexander Foundation Campus Accommodation Rural Support Scholarship was established in 2007 and the first scholarships awarded in early 2008. The program was specifically designed to assist students from rural areas to meet the costs of accommodation in Perth. Each Scholar must demonstrate academic ability, leadership potential and a commitment to their community. Five scholarships, valued at $16,500 over three years, were awarded in 2008 and an additional five are planned for 2009 and 2010.

The new program at Murdoch University is the Foundation’s first and only Scholarship Program in Western Australia. Given the sheer size of Western Australia and the rapidly increasing cost of living in Perth, the Foundation was keen to reduce the financial barriers that face students from rural regions in participating in higher education in the city. George Alexander always felt strongly about providing students from rural regions with all the opportunities afforded to students living in the city. The Scholarship Program at Murdoch University joins programs at Charles Darwin University, Gordon Institute of TAFE, Deakin University and Swinburne University of Technology in its focus on rural and regional students.

Murdoch University, Western Australia

$27,500 (part of a commitment of $247,500 over five years) to The George Alexander Foundation Campus Accommodation Rural Scholarship Program (2008–2010)

Ms Jennifer Randell, Development Project Officer www.murdoch.edu.au

RecipientCourse

Samuel BaldockBachelor of Chiropractic Science

Elise BowenBachelor of Animal Science

Jacilyn DaviesBachelor of Education (Primary)/ Bachelor of Science (Environment)

Asha DugganBachelor of Veterinary Science

Amber MunnsBachelor of Veterinary Science

The George Alexander Foundation Small Grants Program (2005–2007)

The Foundation’s Small Grants Program at RMIT was established in 2002 as a partner program to the Foundation’s Scholarship Program. Initially set as grants of $1,000, the figure was increased to $1,500 in 2006. The Small Grants Program was developed to provide students with access to emergency funds to assist with living expenses, study materials and uniforms and equipment required for student placements. Approximately 150 students have benefited from the program since its inception. The last of the grants were provided in 2007 as the Foundation continues to concentrate on providing students with greater long-term financial support.

The George Alexander Foundation TAFE and Higher Education Scholarship Program (2008–2010)

Since 2002 RMIT has been offering one-year scholarships and bursaries to assist talented students who may have been disadvantaged by social, economic, health or geographical circumstances. After a consultation process involving current students and past Scholars, RMIT and the Foundation agreed that a longer scholarship period would be beneficial for students.

RMIT University, Victoria

$39,000 (part of a commitment of $76,500 over three years) to The George Alexander Foundation Small Grants Program (2005–2007)

Mr Cameron Ingram, Manager, Scholarships and Finance www.rmit.edu.au

In late 2007 the Foundation agreed to support, over the next three years, eight two-year scholarships valued at $15,000 each. The program is specifically aimed at supporting students in the second and third years of their courses, or students directly articulating from TAFE into Higher Education. In a first for the Foundation, an additional $5,000 a year for three years will be provided to RMIT to assist Scholars with a Mentoring and Leadership Program aimed at helping students reach their academic potential.

Demand for The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship continues to outstrip supply, with over 300 students applying for the award each year. The number of students applying for the scholarships serves to highlight the current high study and living costs facing students today.

The George Alexander Foundation 2008 Scholarship Winners

RecipientCourse

Daryl BruceBachelor of Applied Science (Mathematics)

Catherine KeadyBachelor of Social Science (Environment)

John KonybaiBachelor of Laboratory Medicine

Johanna Lane-Maza

Bachelor of Social Work

Tanya NgerengereBachelor of Fine Arts

Thomas StephensBachelor of Applied Science (Valuation)