Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Zonta Annual Scholarship Awards “More Than Worthy” Recipients

Four Year 12 graduates from the Whitsundays were announced as the recipients of a series of local Zonta Club scholarships which will help them pursue tertiary schooling across the country.

St Catherine’s College Proserpine graduates Ella Crossley, Sienna Sobott, and Annabel Danvers were awarded with $1,000 Zonta scholarships each, while Maddison Scott Fitzgerald was awarded the Laura Morrison Scholarship.

The Laura Morrison Memorial Bequest Scholarship of $2,000 commemorates the gift's late namesake, Laura Morrison, a previous treasurer of the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays who passed away suddenly in 2020.

Remembered for her generosity, love of the Zonta Club, and desire to support the education of women, Mrs Morrison’s legacy lives on as part of the scholarship package, which has been awarded annually since her death.

President of the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays, Dianne Truman said this year’s process to determine what is normally a singular scholarship expanded into four separate grants.

“Maddison was a class above the rest in representing the values of the Zonta Club and what we were looking for in a Laura Morrison scholarship recipient,” Ms Truman said.

“But each was so worthy on their own right that we simply could not overlook them. We had the funding, and so now we have four very talented, beautiful young women receiving our support.”

Each graduate will be utilising their funds to study tertiary education in either Sydney or Melbourne.

Maddison Fitzgerald, who is also a founding member of the St Cath’s Z Club, said the feeling of receiving the Laura Morrison Scholarship was a “massive relief.”

“It’s such a weight off my shoulders. Two grand is a lot of money and this will cover a large amount the expenses for my study,” she said.

Maddison will be studying Forensic Psychology with the funds.

Zonta members, Award Winners Annabel Danvers, Ella Crossley, Bridget Patullo, Maddison Scott Fitzgerald, Sienna Sobott, and Year 12 Teacher at St Catherine’s College Shantae Ryle

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