Zoe takes out eighth Auscott scholarship
Scholarship recipient, Zoe Books pictured with Auscott Southern Region Manager Ginning and Warehousing, Craig Gaston and grower services representative, Eddie Redfern. Also pictured are Zoe’s grandmother, Pat Butler from Temora, her parents Leah and Shaun Books and sisters Lily and Ella.
Hard work and a focus on her future career have earned Zoe Books this year’s Auscott Education Program Scholarship.
Zoe has been accepted into Charles Sturt University at Port Macquarie to study for her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, but has her sights set on Canberra University pending HSC results which are yet to be released. She is the eighth recipient from Hay Shire to be awarded the scholarship.
Auscott Grower Services Representative, Eddie Redfern said criteria used by the selection committee for awarding the scholarship include realistic ambition, need, ability to succeed in a chosen course, motivation, academic performance, personal presentation, community involvement and maturity.
“Academic results are not the sole basis on which a decision is reached,” Mr Redfern said. “Zoe joins other Auscott scholarship winners for the 2022 scholastic year from the Gwydir, Macquarie and Namoi Valleys and takes the total number of scholarships Auscott has offered across all valleys to 163 since its inception in 1971.
We are pleased to support our local community and students by offering this program.”
Auscott Southern Region Manager Ginning and Warehousing, Craig Gaston said the scholarship program provides a great process for the company to get to know a young person going through school and onto university. Mr Gaston said five quality applicants were interviewed last month, making the selection of a winner a difficult task.
The annual Auscott investment in the scholarship program currently runs at $138,000. The program assists students meet expenses such as accommodation, books and other living expenses, totalling up to $11,500 per year over the life of the scholarship.
The scholarship was Scholarship recipient, Zoe Books pictured with Auscott Southern Region Manager Ginning and Warehousing, Craig Gaston and grower services representative, Eddie Redfern. Also pictured are Zoe’s grandmother, Pat Butler from Temora, her parents Leah and Shaun Books and sisters Lily and Ella.
The scholarship was formalised at a morning tea at Auscott last week, attended by Zoe’s family, with mum Leah saying it has taken a huge load off their shoulders.
“Zoe is a very independent person who does not want to rely on others,” she said. “The scholarship will help Zoe to ease her way into university without immediately having to get a job.”
