Four top Year 12 graduates from PMSA schools have won PMSA Teacher Education Scholarships for 2021 showing a positive sign for the future of teaching.
This year’s scholarship winners were Brisbane Boys’ College (BBC) 2020 graduate Blake Vause, Clayfield College 2020 graduate Gwyneth Jones, 2019 Sunshine Coast Grammar School graduate Sophie Miles and 2018 Somerville House graduate Rebecca Hunter.
Blake Vause, Gwyneth Jones and Rebecca Hunter will all undertake their four-year education degrees at QUT with Blake majoring in secondary education and Gwyneth and Rebecca both focussing on primary.
Sophie Miles will continue her second year of a dual Bachelors of Arts/Education (Secondary) at the University of Queensland after graduating from Sunshine Coast Grammar in 2019.
In addition to the PMSA Teacher Education Scholarship, Sophie was also awarded the TJ Ryan Memorial Scholarship from Education Queensland.
“I will focus on English, English Literature and Psychology and hope to able to make a difference in others’ lives like my teachers did for me,” Sophie said.
Gwyneth Jones’s senior Geography and English teachers at Clayfield College also heavily inspired her to become a teacher, particularly during the challenging 2020 year.
“My teachers consistently showed their passion for their subjects and a love for teaching and helping others,” said Gwyneth.
Having already commenced her teaching degree in 2019, Rebecca Hunter says she has been fortunate to have had very inspirational teachers throughout her life which has influenced her to want to help other students to become their best versions of themselves, not only academically but also socially, personally and spiritually.
“Working with children and being able to help them develop and flourish into better versions of themselves brings me joy and hope,” said Rebecca.
The PMSA Teacher Education Scholarships are awarded each year to recent graduates of PMSA schools who choose to pursue a career in teaching.
They aim to foster a respect for the importance of teaching as a profession, foster Christian faith and values in schools and encourage future teachers who hold Christian beliefs and values, and assist aspiring teachers of Christian conviction to complete an approved teacher education program to enable them to make a difference in the schools they serve.
Each of the four scholarship winners will receive $2,000 per year for up to four years as they undertake their teaching degrees.
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For more information or an interview with any of the scholarship winners, please contact:
Caroline Thurlow, mobile 0414 565 575, email cthurlow@pmsa-schools.edu.au