Reflections

Avondale College has presented scholarships and awards worth $150,000 to 52 students in recognition of academic excellence this year.

The students received the scholarships and awards during forum on the college's Lake Macquarie campus in March.

The most valuable scholarship-up to $27,500 each for a four-year course-was presented by the Avondale Foundation in recognition of academic excellence. "We are delighted to give 10 scholarships to high academic achievers, and we regret not giving out all 15, and where are all the blokes?" said president Dr Norm Young, emphasising that all the winners were women.

While females received more scholarships and awards than males (34-18), five of the six winners of the first-ever scholarship for children's ministries--a form of ministry that traditionally appeals more to females--were males.

Most of the scholarships on offer are merit based and cover the fields of business, education, music, science and theology. The President's Scholarships and Awards recognise high school students from Australia and New Zealand who achieve or who are likely to achieve tertiary entrance rankings in the top 10 per cent of their state, territory or country, and who demonstrate excellent citizenship qualities.

Keep your eyes open for the latest round of scholarship awardees in November, when graduands and high achievers of the year will be recognised.