Scholarship for former student

Former Stawell Secondary College student Ashlee Wren is the latest Chris and Marli Tilley Macpherson Smith Rural Foundation scholarship winner.

She will use the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work at Deakin University.

The scholarship includes $20,000 in financial aid for three years, as well as mentoring, leadership development and individual support.

Program leaders selected Ms Wren for the scholarship based on outstanding leadership capacity and commitment to regional communities.

Ms Wren grew up in Stawell, where she has been involved in the community through sporting clubs, music and dance.

She was a house captain and received a leadership award at school. As a student she also volunteered at a dance school in Horsham, where she now works as a dance teacher.

The Chris and Marli Tilley scholarship program provides outstanding young Stawell people access to tertiary study by removing financial barriers.

The program involves a partnership between the Tilley family, Stawell Secondary College, Macpherson Smith Rural Foundation, Crowe Howarth Stawell and rural service organisation Oasis.

Foundation chief executive Dr Maryann Brown said Ms Wren was a worthy recipient.

“MSRF has been delighted to work with the Tilley family to create the scholarship,” she said.

“We are grateful for the additional support provided by Crowe Howarth and other donors.

“We are keen to work with other communities to develop a similar scholarship model and invite other local businesses and individuals to contribute to the Stawell fund.”