ICMS Celebrates Record Number of Scholarships Awarded at Distinguished Ceremony

A record number of scholarships were awarded at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) Scholarships and Dean’s List ceremony that took place at the college in Manly, NSW, on Wednesday evening.

Around 40 scholarships were awarded on 14 March as part of the prestigious ICMS Scholarships Program, which gave out scholarships worth over $1million last year, in conjunction with industry partners. These partnerships form the backbone of ICMS’ commitment to career-focused education, an imperative that results in almost 90% of students employed in their field before they graduate.

As Dr Margot McNeill, ICMS Deputy Vice Chancellor – Learning and Teaching, told the 150 guests: “We are here to celebrate today’s champions and the leaders of tomorrow.”

The ceremony both celebrated Dean’s List students – those who have excelled academically while studying at ICMS – and congratulated existing and prospective students who were awarded or re-awarded scholarships.

“This is the most special event of the year for the ICMS Professional Scholarships Program with long months of hard work culminating in approximately 40 awards to present, the largest one so far in the college history both in number and funds contributed,” Ann Whitelock Courtney-O’Connor, Chairperson – ICMS Professional Scholarship Fund & Aspiring Education Fund, said.

“ICMS scholarship winners represent nine different suburbs of Sydney, eight different regions of New South Wales, and 13 different countries around the world. Our goal is to award those who strive, who work hard and who want to achieve. We want to diversify and reach as many people as possible. Also, our goal is to provide support for those who are in need and who may not be able to access higher education,” Whitelock Courtney-O’Connor said.

In attendance at the distinguished event were Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan, ICMS chairman and founder Darryl Courtney-O’Connor, ICMS Board Directors and representatives of industry partners that included those from ANZ Bank, HostPlus, Black and White Waiters, Accor Hotels, Northern Beaches Council and Weatherdon Corporation.

“On behalf of everyone here at ICMS I want to acknowledge the ICMS Professional Scholarship Program’s corporate partners. Our scholarship partners not only invest money in tuition subsidies, but also their time and their experience into these students, into their development, success and growth. They have committed to that and that is something unique,” Whitelock Courtney-O’Connor said.

“In 2017, together with our sponsor partners, ICMS awarded over $1million in scholarships to domestic, international, new and existing students. This really goes beyond our expectations. As long as we can do this viably, then we will continue to grow that number, continue to see people coming into this college and accessing higher education, and continue to see students who are already in this college be rewarded for what they are achieving.”

Sponsor partners were on hand to award scholarships, such as Peter Aldini, NSW state manager at HostPlus, who said the partnership was mutually beneficial. HostPlus has been a scholarship partner with ICMS for four years, and this year increased the number of HostPlus scholarships to three.

“At HostPlus we believe in supporting the industry… and through partnering with the college we are able to bring in talent into the areas that are important to us: hospitality and sport in particular,” he said.

Aldini added that being involved in the process of awarding the scholarships, such as being a part of the interview panel, had shown him the calibre of student that attends ICMS.

“We have been so impressed by the talent that exists at this college; it’s incredible.”

Accor Hotels talent and culture manager Amy Watts echoed these sentiments, saying that the two Accor Scholarships offered, and the four year relationship Accor has enjoyed with ICMS, also serves to bring in quality people to work within the organisation.

“Throughout our entire company we have a number of leaders who are ICMS alumni, contributing to our great organisation all around the world,” Watts said.

“We are delighted to be able to partner with ICMS through the Accor scholarship; any opportunity that we get to be able to support people who are enthusiastic and who are passionate about our great industry is really exciting for us. Being one of the largest operators in the local area means that ICMS is a natural and valuable partner for us.”

Emma Hassall, previous winner of the ICMS Professional scholarship, bore witness to how winning a scholarship from ICMS has made a difference to her life, both professionally and personally.

“I am proud to be a part of a college that recognises students’ achievements, hard work and dedication. I believe that the generosity shown through these scholarships is a true testament to the level of investment, commitment and dedication to students, and it contributes significantly to the tight-knit, supportive community here at ICMS,” Hassall said.

Wellington College Courtney-O Connor scholarship 2017 winner Thomas Sneddon, a second year ICMS business management student, encouraged scholarship winners to make good on the enormous opportunity that an ICMS scholarship presented.

“It was your dreams that got you here to ICMS but your hard work that delivered on that dream. This is a night to celebrate the high goals that you have set for yourself, and which you have successfully achieved.”

For more information on the many scholarships that ICMS offers, click here.