Tuckwell gift inspires ANU Centenary Scholarships

Professor Ian Young AO, Vice-Chancellor of The Australian National University (ANU), today announced 100 new scholarships for first-year students to study at ANU in a one-off ANU Centenary Scholars Program.

The announcement was made last night at the Business Higher Education Roundtable Awards for 2013, where Graham and Louise Tuckwell were honoured for their generous gift of $50 million to ANU to establish the Tuckwell Scholarship program with the Award for Outstanding Philanthropic Support of Higher Education.

Vice-Chancellor Young said that the Tuckwells’ vision and the students shortlisted for the Tuckwell Scholarships inspired the University to act.

“This award is well deserved. Graham and Louise Tuckwell will transform the lives of young Australians for many years to come thanks both to their vision for the program and the generosity of their gift,” he said.

“We were inspired to provide funds for the Centenary Scholarships by our gratitude to Graham and Louise Tuckwell, as well as by a desire to foster a culture of giving in our community.

“The students shortlisted for the Tuckwell Scholarship are exactly the sort of students we want at ANU –outstanding, talented and passionate young people who will change the world.”

Each scholarship recipient will receive $5,000 with a total of $500,000 earmarked for the Centenary Scholars scheme.

The University will award the 100 scholarships to the first 100 shortlisted Tuckwell scholarship applicants who did not receive either a Tuckwell or other ANU scholarship.

“We hope that the Centenary Scholarships will inspire members of the ANU community and our broader community to think about supporting the aspirations of the most outstanding young people in the country to come to Canberra and to ANU,” Professor Young said.

Recipients will be encouraged to consider how they might be able to use the money towards their own development as leaders.

For some students facing financial challenges to come to Canberra, the scholarship can help overcome that barrier. For others, it may be spent on a cause that they are passionate about, such as undertaking a development project.