Ten Indigenous Whitsunday students celebrated their successful receipt of school scholarships as part of continued reparations to the First Nations people of Australia.
The cohort of 10 Bowen State High School students were successful in Round 14 of The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation (QATSIF) scholarships this year.
QATSIF was formed in 2008 to give Queensland’s Indigenous families increased educational choices and life opportunities, and was developed from the unclaimed stolen wages of Indigenous Australian elders.
The program offers scholarships worth $2000 each to help support senior First Nations students in attaining their Queensland Certificates of Education/Queensland Certificates of Individual Achievement.
Over the past 4 years, Bowen State High School has had several senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students receive their QATSIF scholarships, with 16 QATSIF recipients currently studying at the school.
At a morning tea held in their honour, the students were reminded by QATSIF Coordinator Deb Belyea of the responsibility of being awarded this scholarship and the importance of valuing their education.
Bowen State High School Principal Rob Harris said recipients now have a “newfound status as role models to junior students and as such they needed to be upstanding.”
“We look forward to watching these students flourish in their new leadership roles,” Mr Harris said.
Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation (QATSIF) School Leaders badges and certificates were also presented to student leaders Danzel – School Captain - and Jordan - Student Council Treasurer.
Both students are Round 13 Recipients of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation Scholarship.
Back row: Bowen State High School Principal Rob Harris, Talithia, Brock, Clarice, Wade, Jamarcia , QATSIF Coordinator Deb Belyea, and Community Education Counsellor Mrs Raylene Van Veen, and in front: Dakota, Olivia, Alexia, Graeme, and Rahkiya
