A young Port Macquarie woman with a passion for teaching will receive a $15,000 boost to her study efforts over the next three years after being awarded the inaugural Lewis Land Group Scholarship for Continuing Education.

Former Hastings Secondary College student Cassie Hoy is on the cusp of starting the second of a four-year Bachelor of Education degree at Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast Campus.

Cassie’s scholarship was announced at the Hastings Education Fund’s (HEF) annual gala presentation on Monday 6 December with Sovereign Hills’ Jessica Good presenting the award to Cassie, on behalf of the Lewis Land Group (LLG).

“This grant will not only help me financially with buying textbooks, appliances, and everything I need to be successful at university, but this scholarship will also benefit me through the support of the Hastings Education Fund and the Lewis Land Group,” shared Cassie. “Receiving this opportunity has given me so much confidence knowing that I have a team of people supporting me alongside additional motivation to do well in my further studies.

“My dream job would be becoming a primary school teacher; educating the young people of today and helping them develop the skills that they need to thrive.”

The developer of the Sovereign Hills master planned community, LLG provides $5,000 a year, for up to three years, for selected students who, in the previous year, were recipients of a HEF grant.

The 2020 recipient Kalisha Glover, is about to enter her third year of a Bachelor of Communications at the University of Technology Sydney. Kalisha is now working on fellow student film projects and is gaining experience with set design, lighting and behind the scenes photography.

“Without HEF and the Lewis Land sponsorship I wouldn’t have been able to live in Sydney and grow in my extracurricular studies throughout 2020 to 2022,” Kalisha explained.

The first recipient of the continuous education scholarship in 2019 was former Rollands Plains local Dylan Mason who is entering his fourth year of studies this year at The University of Sydney. Dylan is studying a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Taronga Wildlife Conservation), majoring in wildlife conservation and evolutionary biology.

Dylan’s honor’s project examines the impact of drought and fire stress on this eucalyptus community near Gunnedah.

“I’m really looking forward to this year and the opportunity to get out and apply what I’ve learned so far.”

The LLG scholarship operates in the same manner as the initial HEF grant, by reimbursing approved education related expenses such as textbooks, computers, specialist clothing or equipment.

Since its establishment in 2011, HEF has assisted 311 students in their first year of further education or training. In 2022 HEF is assisting 28 students – all graduates from high schools within the Hastings – with their further education or training.

“Many students need to move to metropolitan centres to pursue courses of their choice,” said HEF Chair Jim O’Brien. “Students are not able to do this without financial support. In many cases families are just not in a position to provide that financial assistance so HEF plays an essential role in making it possible for these students to pursue their goals.

“Our motto is dream, believe, achieve. We, the HEF committee, encourage young school leavers to have dreams and set ambitious goals for their future. We also encourage them to believe in themselves and by supporting them, HEF is demonstrating their belief in these young people.”

Dylan, Kalisha and Cassie are all shining examples of the students HEF is encouraging to achieve their dreams.

“I want to be a role model and a person that primary school students can look up to and respect,” added Cassie. “My ultimate goal is to help children (in my class and at the school I teach at) love coming to school each day.”

For more information about Hastings Education Fund click here