The Sydney Catholic Education Office (CEO) was the proud donor of nine education scholarships for students at the Australian Catholic University Foundation's 2007 Prizes and Awards Ceremony held recently at the Strathfield Campus.

Br Kelvin Canavan, Executive Director of Schools says that the CEO's scholarship program is growing every year, most of them being directed towards students in teacher training.

"We are concerned to ensure the future supply of quality teachers for Catholic schools," he says, "particularly in view of the rising costs of university training, and the likely shortage of teachers predicted as the baby boomers retire," he says.

Br Kelvin presented four students (Dominique Goode, George Arcella, Anne-Marie Locke and Kylie Seymour) with the James Carroll Scholarships for this year.

Worth $2000 each, they are awarded to students who have successfully completed the first year of their studies at ACU, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to the ideals of Catholic education and are involved in parish and community life.

Each of the awardees is expected to make a commitment to teach in a Sydney CEO school on conclusion of their teacher training.

Two Indigenous students, Ashlee Booth and Benjamyn Horsley, both formerly from Trinity Catholic College at Auburn, were the recipients for this year's Jubilee Indigenous Teacher Training Scholarship.

Seamus O'Grady, Director of Curriculum for the CEO who presented these awards, says one annual scholarship has been awarded since 2002 but for 2007 and the future the number has been doubled.

"This scholarship is part of the CEO's commitment to helping bring about a meaningful and just reconciliation with the Indigenous people of this land."

He also added that the first recipient, Tamara Amato is now a first-year teacher at Clancy Catholic College at Hinchinbrook.

Seamus also presented scholarships to Matthew Cook and Katrina Lemon - 3rd Year students training to specialise in the teaching of Technical and Applied Studies.

He says this Key Learning Area, involving disciplines such as textiles, food technology, engineering, computer, woodwork, metalwork and building and construction is becoming increasingly popular in schools.

The ninth scholarship, the Sr Isabel Menton Award, was presented by Mark Rix, Schools and Universities Liaison Officer for the CEO. This award is for a first year primary school teacher who has achieved outstanding academic results and who shows a strong commitment to the ideals of Catholic education.

Sr Isabel Menton was a pioneer of Catholic education particularly in her work in the formation of the first tertiary Catholic training college that has now become the Australian Catholic University.

The recipient, Francine Grima, is a first year teacher at St Catherine of Siena Primary School at Prestons.

For Further Information:
Ted Myers, CEO, Leichhardt Tel: 9568 8224
Mark Rix, CEO Southern Regional Office, Revesby Tel: 9772 7000