General News
13 July, 2023
Rotary celebrates students
The Rotary Club of Warracknabeal celebrated and offered support to local tertiary students last week, and presented local student Max McCoy with the Stan Deans Award in honour of the late Rotary-member who contributed so much to the community...
The Rotary Club of Warracknabeal celebrated and offered support to local tertiary students last week, and presented local student Max McCoy with the Stan Deans Award in honour of the late Rotary-member who contributed so much to the community.
Country Education Foundation of Warracknabeal and District (CEFW&D) chair Chris Hewitt provided a background snapshot of Stan Deans’ contribution to the Warracknabeal and district community from his own experience.
The CEFW&D was formed four years ago by Rotarian Tony Gregson and seeks to support students, financially and personally, as they move into career-based studies, with the hope that the students will bring their skills and expertise back to the country.
This year the CEFW&D awarded scholarships to eight local students studying courses as wide-ranging as primary and secondary teaching, massage therapy, law, exercise and sport science.
Each year, the CEFW&D steering committee chooses one of these students to receive the Stan Deans Award.
Mr Deans’ daughter, former Warracknabeal resident Michelle Kinsman presented the award to Mr McCoy, in memory of her father who was known for really batted for young people.
Mr McCoy is from a local Warracknabeal family and is passionate about becoming a partner in a law firm.
At his initial Country Education Foundation interview, having got into Criminology, he declared he was going to work hard to get a high score sufficient to be able to transfer into Law - which is exactly what he has done.
He is now studying Law at Deakin University and firmly on the path to his lofty objective.
Mr McCoy was also one of the Rotary Club of Warracknabeal’s three Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) candidates this year.
His passion and outlook exemplify the qualities of focus and endeavour the Country Education Foundation stands for.
Mr McCoy was supported at the presentation by nine friends and family members (dubbed “The McCoy Clan”), and Ms Deans was accompanied by her son, also named Max, who is another of this year’s RYLA candidates.
Last year’s inaugural Stan Deans Award winner, Will Martin attended and was able to catch up with the Rotary members.
It was an evening where the focused achievement of young people was celebrated.