Each year Council partners with businesses to support the next generation of local leaders and industry professionals as they begin their tertiary studies.

Mayor Palmer said 21 deserving students have received a scholarship this year, with two siblings doing the same degree splitting a $2000 scholarship between them.

“A scholarship can make a big difference to a student starting their academic journey – to buy essentials like textbooks, a laptop or covering the cost of student accommodation,” Mayor Palmer said.

“This year we’re delighted to have an increase in the number of strong female applicants, with 17 of the 21 scholarships awarded to local women.

“The course list is equally as impressive, with students studying everything from biomedical science and archaeology, to commerce, nursing, design, paramedicine and engineering.”

Ampcontrol, Business Port Stephens, Club Lemon Tree, Destination Port Stephens, Hunter Land, Hunter Readymixed Concrete, McDonald Jones Homes, MOJO Homes, Newcastle Airport, Raymond Terrace Bowling Club, Salamander Bay Recycling, Soldiers Point Bowling Club, SUEZ Recycling & Recovery, The Wests Group, Tomago Aluminium and Weathertex all contributed to the scholarships program in 2022.

Mayor Palmer thanked local businesses for their support.

“These scholarships wouldn’t be possible without the investment made by local businesses, so I want to thank each and every one of them for supporting the future leaders of Port Stephens,” he said.

“Along with providing a financial boost, business sponsors and students have the opportunity to connect and grow their professional networks, which I’m sure will be an invaluable experience for both.

“I wish all of the scholarship winners good luck in their studies and in achieving their goals in 2022.”

The 2022 Mayoral Academic Scholarship recipients are:

Caitlin Ping | Raymond Terrace Bowling Club
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Secondary Education

Dianne Villamanca | Destination Port Stephens
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Law (Honours) Combined/Bachelor of Social Science

Sasha Gutsulyak | Tomago Aluminium
University of Tasmania - Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

Emma Cotton | Soldiers Point Bowling Club
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Education (Primary)

Indiana Thorne | The Wests Group
Macquarie University - Bachelor of Archaeology

Kyle Wilson | Newcastle Airport
University of NSW - Bachelor of Commerce

Nelson Armstrong | Ampcontrol
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours)

Logan Stewart | Weathertex
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Medical Engineering (Honours)

Alissa McLeod | Hunter Land
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Felicity Webb | Salamander Bay Recycling
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Nursing

Tara Helly | SUEZ Resource Recovery Centre
Australian National University - Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Law

Chloe Langius | Hunter Readymixed Concrete
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Madelaine Rose | Weathertex
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Design (Architecture)

Abbie Barr | Business Port Stephens
University of Technology Sydney - Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication

Ellie Martin | The Wests Group
Charles Sturt University - Bachelor of Paramedicine

Harrison Macris | MOJO Homes
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Design (Architecture)

Isabella Derkenne | Ampcontrol
University of New South Wales - Bachelor of Science (Mathematics Advanced)/Bachelor of Arts

Jessica McDonald | Salamander Bay Recycling
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Psychological Science (Advanced)

Madison & Indiana Shaw | Club Lemon Tree
University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Visual Communication Design

Cooper Jones | McDonald Jones
University of Wollongong - Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Civil Engineering

Applications for the 2023 Mayoral Academic Scholarships will open later this year. For more information visit pscouncil.info/mayoralacademicscholarships