Acknowledging Academic Excellence
Explore Councils by state
Published on 02 July 2020
Biomedical research, secondary school education, physiotherapy, community policy creation, paramedicine, and early childhood education, are just some of the areas of study covered by the Blacktown City Council 2020 Tertiary Scholarship Awards.
Council has awarded $1,500 scholarships to 12 students who live in Blacktown City and have completed at least one year of study at a recognised tertiary institution.
Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said, “Blacktown is a city that celebrates diversity and acknowledges the talent and achievements of our students.
“I am immensely proud to see the richness of our City reflected in the age, achievements, backgrounds and study choices of our scholarship recipients.
“The diversity of courses undertaken by the recipients will ensure the future of the Blacktown Community will be well supported and equipped to cover a wide range of employment needs and opportunities in our rapidly developing economy.”
The Anne Aquilina Scholarship for 2020, was awarded to Atharva Patil from Blacktown, who is enrolled at Western Sydney University studying physiotherapy.
The scholarship is named in honour of Anne Aquilina, the popular Blacktown physiotherapist and academic and late wife of the first Mayor of Blacktown City Council, Hon. John Aquilina, and specifically assists students of physiotherapy, sports medicine or health sciences.
Atharva has a passion for cricket and hopes to support the sporting community through providing much needed physiotherapy.
“I want to support athletes in their career and ensure they can achieve their dreams of playing professionally”, Atharva affirmed.
Mayor Bleasdale said, “Within a few years, Atharva could be working as a physiotherapist at our $100 million International Centre of Training Excellence at the Blacktown International Sportspark.”
Lisa Lewis from Marayong, is studying for a Masters of Social Science degree at Western Sydney University and hopes to work in research and policy in the community sector.
Lainey Field from Minchinbury, is undertaking a Science degree at the University of Technology Sydney, and aspires to work in a laboratory environment in either the food or pharmaceutical industry.
Rachael King from Mount Druitt is studying for a double degree in Science and Education at UNSW Sydney and said she was inspired mentoring younger students in mathematics while at high school and would like to pursue a career in secondary education.
Mayor Bleasdale said, “Currently up to 18, 000 students travel outside Blacktown City to attend university but from next year students will be able to study at the Australian Catholic University campus in the centre of the Blacktown CBD.”
The scholarships were awarded on the advice of Council’s independent Tertiary Scholarship Committee consisting of Dr Bill Palmer, senior lecturer, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Sydney University; Neville Webber, Emeritus Professor, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Sydney University, and retired teacher, Mrs Anne-Marie Kestle.
Blacktown City Council 2020 Tertiary Scholarship Awards.
Atharva Patil, Blacktown, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Western Sydney University, awarded the Anne Aquilina Scholarship Alison Oon, Quakers Hill, Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, TAFE Ashleigh Grech, Glenwood, Bachelor of Health Science at Western Sydney University Bernadette Pudadera, Blacktown, Bachelor of Materials Science & Masters of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney Hadassa Gitau, Quakers Hills, Bachelor of Music, University of Sydney Jessica Szakacs, Glendenning, Bachelor of Business, Western Sydney University Lainey Field, Minchinbury, Bachelor of Science, University of Technology Sydney Lisa Lewis, Marayong, Masters of Social Science, Western Sydney University Nazanin Sharifi, Doonside, Bachelor of Law & Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney Nicholas Shelley, Doonside, Graduate Diploma of Urban & Regional Planning, University of New England Rachael King, Mount Druitt, Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Education, Macquarie University. Sophie Smith, Quakers Hill, Bachelor of Medical Science, University of Sydney.Pic: Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM and the recipient of the Anne Aquilina Scholarship, Atharva Patil.