Meet the students with a passion and commitment to rural and regional NSW, ensuring a bright future for their communities.
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation (RASF) 2018 rural scholarships have been announced and two of the 53 students are from Camden.
Kelsea Boots and Sean McIntosh have both demonstrated a passion to give back to rural NSW within their chosen fields.
Growing up in Camden, 24-year-old Kelsea Boots, pictured at left, is now in her 5th year of Dental Science at Charles Sturt University in Orange.
Completing a gap year in the Royal Australian Navy as a dental assistant sparked an interest in dentistry for Kelsea.
She has enjoyed a number of rural placements throughout her studies and recently achieved her long-term goal of working with the Royal Flying Doctor Services at a clinic in Bourke.
Sean McIntosh, 19, also of Camden, has had a passion for agriculture from a young age, showing cattle at local shows and ultimately owning his own small herd.
Last year Sean completed a Certificate III in Agriculture at Tocal College and his good results combined with his enjoyment of the course prompted Sean to complete a Certificate IV & Diploma of Agriculture this year.
Sean, pictured below, dreams of running his own beef and mixed cropping enterprise in the future.
The RASF rural scholarships recognise individual students striving to make a positive impact on the future of rural and regional NSW, through University, TAFE or other accredited VET courses.
This year’s rural scholarship payments of $6,000 for full-time and $3,000 for part-time students support those from rural areas with their academic studies.
RAS foundation manager Cecilia Logan says history shows scholarship funding reaps benefits not only for the students but their rural communities as well.
“While a desire to be a part of the future of rural NSW may already be there, the RASF rural scholarships assist in making that dream happen,” Ms Logan says.
“Many of these students have identified the unique needs of their local communities and are working towards giving back once they complete their studies. That may be through health, education, technology, agriculture or anything in between.”
This year the RAS Foundation awarded 53 scholarships totalling $306,000 and has distributed $1.98 million across more than 400 scholarships over eight years.
Applications for the 2019 rural scholarships will open on July 1 and close on August 31. Visit www.rasf.org.au for more information
