Closing the Divide: ICMS-CEF Partnership supports Regional students

For many years, ICMS has teamed up with the Country Education Foundation (CEF) to help hardworking students from rural areas achieve their education and career goals through the ICMS Professional Scholarship Program.

The CEF-ICMS partnership is based on shared values and aims to support these students in reaching their potential.

The ICMS CEF Scholarship is awarded to a student based on the selection process implemented by the ICMS Scholarship Board.

At the March 2024 ICMS Scholarship ceremony, CEF Board Director Dougal Geddes said CEF was proud to partner with ICMS to offer an annual scholarship to a regional student.

“We believe very strongly that the regions and the country of Australia at this stage need all the support they can get, and we are very proud to do the work we do,” Geddes said.

Practical Assistance towards Achieving Professional Goals

ICMS CEF Scholarship recipient Isabella Webster, who lives in Orange, a town west of Sydney, spoke of how the part-tuition, part-accommodation scholarship was a practical and welcome assistance to her achieving her personal and professional goals.

“One of the most significant benefits of receiving a scholarship is the opportunity it provides to pursue higher education without the burden of financial constraints,” Isabella said.

“It opens doors that may have seemed closed before, enabling you to access quality education, resources and opportunities that can shape our futures in profound ways.

“Beyond the financial assistance, scholarships can provide access to mentorship, networking abilities and valuable experiences that enhance our skills and broaden our horizons.

“For many students, including myself, scholarships have made it possible to pursue our passions, follow our dreams and achieve our goals.

“If not for receiving a scholarship, I would not be at this beautiful location, making memories and immersing myself in the incredible opportunities ICMS has to offer.”

The ICMS Professional Scholarship Program has awarded over $13million worth of scholarships over the past 13 years.

It is unique in its volume of giving and in its huge diversity and range of scholarships.

“The scholarship partnership with CEF was established several years ago to create a vital bridge for rural and remote Australian students to access a quality higher education at ICMS,” ICMS Professional Scholarships chair Ann Whitelock said.

“The range of scholarships at ICMS meets the breadth of diversity of students. It is a priority that opportunities are available for all types of students to access and complete their higher education.”

For more information on CEF, click here.

For more information on the ICMS Professional Scholarships Program, click here.

To read about the recent ICMS Bootbash fundraiser in support of CEF, click here.