COLERAINE Community Bank has urged local students who are about to start their first year of tertiary education to apply for the Coleraine Community Bank Scholarship before applications close on February 21.

Successful applicants will receive funds to help supplement study costs in their first year of higher education.

Coleraine Community Bank Branch chairman, Simon Ferrier said the Coleraine Community Bank Branch Scholarship Program, which opened in December, was launched because the branch believed local students deserved every opportunity to achieve their dreams.

 “An investment in education yields great long-term dividends and by helping young people gain access to tertiary education, the returns to the student, their families and the local community are significant,” he said.

“Applications will be considered from students wishing to undertake study at university or TAFE levels.

“The Community Bank Branch Scholarship Program is a transformative undertaking that changes the lives of local students, strengthens communities for the long term and is a tangible example of the good that banking with us can achieve.

“Our young people are our future and we believe they deserve the best support possible to help forge their careers and achieve their dreams.

Successful Coleraine applicants will initially receive funding for one year with the opportunity to renew the scholarship based on academic performance.

Last year, the Coleraine Community Bank Branch Scholarship supported local student, Jordyn Templeton to study a Health Sciences at Deakin University in Geelong.

Ms Templeton initially started studying a Bachelor of Health Science where she discovered a passion for Occupational Therapy (OT) and has since changed courses to pursue a career in OT.

Ms Templeton said the scholarship gave her the necessary funds to find accommodation and obtain textbooks, relieving the financial pressure of attending university.

“I am grateful to Coleraine Community Bank Branch for helping me to attend university and to pursue my ambitions,” she said.

“Most of the money I put towards rent fees, but I also put some of it towards textbooks for my units.

“It’s been really handy actually.”

The Coleraine Community Bank Scholarship is part of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship Program, which partners with Community Bank branches, Rural Bank and The University of Melbourne.

The program has supported over 1158 students, with more than $10.2 million in funding since its inception in 2007.

For further information please visit bendigobank.com.au/scholarships.