At a ceremony on Thursday 15 February, 20 deserving young people were awarded $2,000 to use towards their first year of tertiary education in support of their career aspirations.

Mayor Palmer said the range of fields being studied by the applicants this year has been impressive, including education, nursing, medicine and science.

“This is an opportunity to thank our future leaders for their persistence and hard work during a particularly stressful time completing their HSC,” Mayor Palmer said.

"The scholarship recipients were selected based on their academic merit, achievements, and performance in an interview process.

“These scholarships wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of local businesses who sponsor this event. Many of our sponsors have been involved with the Mayoral Academic Scholarships program for many years with some providing funding for 2 scholarships,” he added.

This year's sponsors included Ampcontrol, BAE Systems Australia, Business Port Stephens, Club Lemon Tree (2x scholarships), Destination Port Stephens, Enrich HR, Hunter Land, Hunter Readymixed Concrete, McDonald Jones, MOJO Homes, Newcastle Airport (2x scholarships), Raymond Terrace Bowling Club, Salamander Bay Recycling, Soldiers Point Bowling Club, The Wests Group (2x scholarships), Tomago Aluminium and Weathertex.

“I’d like to thank all our sponsors for supporting the future leaders of Port Stephens, and for helping them grow their professional networks – invaluable for both business and student,” Mayor Palmer said.

“To all of the scholarship winners, good luck stepping into your studies and achieving all your goals in 2024 and beyond,” he added.

The 2024 Mayoral Academic Scholarship recipients and they're sponsors are:

• Saskia Maurushat | Ampcontrol
  Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Medical Science)
• Hunter Jones | BAE Systems Australia
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Mathematics (Advanced)
• Melana Hargreaves | Business Port Stephens
  University of New England – Bachelor of Science
• Jessica Love | Club Lemon Tree
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
• Molly O’Sullivan | Club Lemon Tree
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Media & Communication
• Madeline Lilley | Destination Port Stephens
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
• Ruby McCall | Enrich HR
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Psychology & Bachelor of Business
• Joshua Price | Hunter Land
  Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie – Bachelor of Paramedicine
• Travis Lamborn | Hunter Readymixed Concrete
  NSW TAFE – Certificate III Mobile Plant Technology
• Lilly Gorham | McDonald Jones
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
• Tahlia Jarvie | MOJO Homes
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Nursing (Hunter)
• Taniesha Tetavano | Newcastle Airport
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Law (Honours)
• Hannah Baxter | Newcastle Airport
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (Nuclear Medicine)
• Huxley Rowe | Raymond Terrace Bowling Club
  University of New England – Bachelor of Nursing
• Taylah Percival | Salamander Bay Recycling
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Taronga Wildlife Conservation)
• Emma Dawson | Soldiers Point Bowling Club
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Honours) (Radiation Therapy)
• Michaela Craven | The Wests Group
  University of Canberra – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
• Caleb Reungkitchaya | The Wests Group
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Sports & Exercise Science
• Jarrod Knorr | Tomago Aluminium
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours)
• Benjamin Barwood | Weathertex
  University of Newcastle – Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Honours)

Applications for the 2025 Mayoral Academic Scholarships will open later this year.

For more information visit portstephens.nsw.gov.au/mayoral-academic-scholarships