It was a big day on 5 May 2026 when 52 students from various high schools and vocational colleges in the Hunter Region were formally presented with their 2026 Educational Scholarship Certificates at our annual Presentation Ceremony.
The ceremony is one of the highlights on MSN’s calendar and was held at one of our in-kind sponsors, Newcastle Harness Racing Club in Broadmeadow. The club is one of MSN’s great sponsors and provides function facilities throughout the year for our meetings and activities.
The 52 students came from 16 high schools a trade college in the Hunter Region and were successful during an interview process late last year in gaining a scholarship to assist them in their senior studies. The list of schools and trade college is:
- Callaghan College – Jesmond
- Cardiff High School
- Cooks Hill Campus – Newcastle
- Hunter River High School
- Hunter Trade College
- Hunter Sports High School
- Lake Macquarie High School
- Lambton High School
- Maitland Grossman High School
- Maitland High School
- Merewether High School
- Newcastle High School
- San Clemente Mayfield
- Singleton High School
- Saint Joseph’s College Lochinvar
- Toronto High School
- West Wallsend High School
Many of our sponsors and donors, support teachers and parents were among the more than 120 people who attended the ceremony where our Guest Speakers included Fiona Olds from Hunter River High School Emma Morris Fron our platinum sponsor, Zeal Futures, and Cardiff High School student, Nate Kimber, who was a recipient on the day (see next article).
From a scholarship holder
We often receive words of thanks from our scholarship holders but the following from Nate, one of our scholarship recipients (pictured above with his mum, MSN Committee Chair and MSN Patron), caught our eye … “I was lucky enough to receive the Mentor Support Network scholarship in aid of my financial troubles, and I am greatly thankful for everything that your organisation does, and for that reason is why I am reaching out, so more students like myself can get the help they need. “Last year from January 1st to early November, I challenged myself to compete amongst the brilliant minds of Australia’s youth, in the Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF). I spent 11 months working extremely hard, powered only by my determination to innovate a project that could place me high in the competition. Funding was low, so in the times that I wasn’t studying for school, I was working at a local fastfood restaurant, gaining enough money to support my project. I had no outside resources, no labs or workshops to work with and definitely no mentors or supporters who could assist me with the technical side of my project. Well, I am lucky enough to say that I am a trusted reserve for the international team. I placed 11th in not only Australia, but New Zealand, many pacific islands and international schools within the AUSSEF competition. The Top 9 are granted the chance to go to Phoenix, Arizona to represent Australia, and I am proud to be a part of the 12 members of the team, even as a reserve. I hope this doesn’t come across as egotistical, but I do think that what I have achieved could not only inspire my peers around me but also create awareness of the possibilities for the Australian Youth and why funding for (MSN) scholarships like this is so necessary. I am a member of the international team, and the only one to go to a public school … not to mention the many highly supported students that I was able to outperform while facing significant financial issues and battling schoolwork and extracurriculars. It’s important that people know that the resources they are given, and the environments they grow up with, do not determine their future, or the opportunities ahead. I’d like to thank you (MSN) again for all the support I have been graced with from this organisation, and I hope by sharing my story and success, I can help grant more opportunities to troubling youth. Thank you. Nate Nate, who is 16 years old this year and whose “absolute dream is to go to the USA to study a degree in aerospace engineering” …. After his outstanding speech at the 2026 Scholarship Certificate Presentation Ceremony we are sure he will be successful with his dream. |