Daniel Lawson of Narooma is one of 11 students from the state’s South East and among 64 recipients of Rural Scholarships in 2017 from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Foundation.
Daniel Lawson is a 22-year-old single father studying his fourth year of Veterinary Science at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga.
Raised in Narooma, Mr Lawson has strong roots from which his passion for animals has flourished.
According to the RAS Foundation, it has long been his ambition to work with primary producers – the lifeblood of rural communities – to maximize productivity, animal welfare and profitability to ensure the animal production industry remains viable for future generations.
The other South East NSW scholarship winners are Ellen Birtles (Queenbeyan), Mitchum Bower (Milton), Forbes Corby (Braidwood), Jessica Ford (Wolumla), Katherine Lahiff (Ulladulla), Cassie MacBean (Wolumla), Inga Neilsen (Braidwood), Katherine Reid (Bredbo), Samuel Scarlett (Cooma) and Samantha Spark (Worrigee).
Scholarships are awarded to students based on financial need along with their desire and commitment to use the skills gained through their studies to contribute to rural and regional NSW communities.
RASF scholarships are valued at $5,000 for full-time and $2,500 for part-time study.
RAS Foundation executive officer, Kate Ross said the 64 students selected to receive scholarship funding was a record for the RASF.
“Again this year the RAS Foundation is thrilled to be able to support such a large and diverse group of inspiring students pursuing careers in everything from the veterinary sciences to medicine and agriculture,” Ms Ross said.
“Many have recognised gaps in services in local rural communities and have committed to help change that through their chosen studies, whether it be mental health, education or farming technologies”.
“Some of the students are the first in their family to pursue higher education, while others have given up careers to change direction and follow new careers that will be of greater benefit to rural communities and the people that live in them.”
The RASF has now awarded more than $1.7m to rural scholarship recipients since 2011.
Applications for the RASF’s 2018 Rural Scholarships open on August 1 and can be accessed online at www.ras.com.au/foundation
