Financially disadvantaged students receive scholarship boost
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s Scholarship Program will enter its 10th year with scholarships worth more than $5.4 million supporting 468 students since inception*.
The program recognises the need for financially disadvantaged yet academically outstanding students to have the opportunity to access tertiary education.
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Chairman, Robert Johanson, said the Program has seen consistent expansion over the years, signalling a pressing need for tertiary education funding across regional and metropolitan Australia.
“Our work with universities and Australian youth continues to improve outcomes for young people and their communities.
“Many of them are from regional areas where they face extra costs to achieve their goals.
“Today, it’s the Bank’s most financially and socially significant contribution to education,” Mr Johanson said.
Jeffrey Tho from Maiden Gully, Victoria received a scholarship in 2009.
He graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Dental Science (with honours) from the University of Melbourne and is currently working full time in a private dental practice in Ballarat, Victoria.
“To this day I still remember the benefit of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship Program, Mr Tho said.
“The money from the scholarship contributed to university fees, equipment and text books, which are a costly expense.
“It really does help regional students with many things that metro students wouldn't have to think about.
“The scholarship allowed me to reduce the number of hours I had to work, which in turn allowed me to spend more time studying,” he said.
Mr Tho went on to win numerous academic prizes and awards, and also represented Australia in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games in the sport of badminton.
This year, the Bank also officially welcomed 10 graduates to its Graduate Program, joining 13 inducted into the 2015 program, with 40 graduate completing the two year program since it launched in 2014.
The program provides university graduates the experience of working in the financial services sector, gaining skills across a range of divisions that complement their field of study.
The Bank also launched Deakin University Community Bank® this year, which will realise positive outcomes for university students, staff and the community.
The 2017 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank scholarship program opens on Thursday 1 December 2016. Scholarship applications must be submitted by midnight (AEDT) Friday 27 January 2017.
* this includes Community Bank®, Rural Bank, Rural Finance, The Alexander and Bridget Jones – Montmorency Secondary College Scholarship and scholarships offered in partnership with University of Melbourne and La Trobe University.
