Celebrating Excellence: Two CMCB Students Honoured With Bishop Joseph Grech Scholarship Awards

On 13 August 2024, the Sandhurst community came together in Shepparton to honour the exceptional achievements of sixteen outstanding Years 10 and 11 students who were awarded the prestigious Bishop Joseph Grech Scholarship. This annual event is a highlight on the calendar of Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd (CES) and this year’s ceremony was no exception.

Two Catherine McAuley College Bendigo (CMCB) Year 10 students were honoured for their achievements. Congratulations to Rose McSweeney and Chloe Vincent who were announced as 2024 scholarship winners.

Rose serves as the Year Level Captain of her cohort. She is also a committed member of the College’s FIRE Carriers and Seeds of Justice groups, leading many of the school-wide initiatives. As a youth member St Kilian’s Parish, Rose is a choir member and participates in the ministries of Reading and Commentating.  These are the areas she intends to explore further through her scholarship. Rose’s vision is to rebuild and reinvigorate the St Kilian’s Parish Youth Group.

Chloe serves as the Year 10 Backhaus House Captain and is active in the Seeds of Justice Group. Last year, she received the prestigious Seeds of Justice Award for excellence in Mercy in Action. Throughout her time at the College, Chloe has consistently represented her peers on the Student Representative Council. It is in this area that Chloe would like to focus her scholarship. Chloe’s vision is to provide a place where students can gather and share their faith throughout the day.

The Bishop Joseph Grech Scholarship was established to recognise and support exceptional young people within the Sandhurst secondary schools who actively contribute to the life of their colleges by making a positive impact on their communities.

The scholarship holds a special significance as it is named in honour of Bishop Joseph Grech, the much loved sixth Bishop of Sandhurst. Fondly known as Bishop Joe, he was a true champion for young people and firmly believed in their ability to create a meaningful difference in the world and within the church. Tragically, Bishop Joe passed away in 2010, but his legacy lives on through the scholarship that bears his name.

Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd, Ms Kate Fogarty emphasised how parents and schools can be immensely proud of the young people in their midst who are actively working to build a better society.

“This event recognises and celebrates so much of what is good in our young people. Those who receive a Bishop Joseph Grech Scholarship do so because they are known in their school communities as individuals who are committed, creative, independent thinkers and doers,” said Kate.

“They are young people who stand for something, they think of others before themselves, they are ones who see a need and work to address it, they work for justice and improvement for all.”

Principal of CMCB, Mr Brian Turner congratulated the CMCB recipients, saying “Chloe and Rose are outstanding role models in our College and we thank them for their significant, ongoing contributions to College life and commitment to leadership and social justice. They are worthy recipients of the Bishop Joseph Grech Scholarship and were impressive representatives of the College at today’s ceremony.”

The scholarship provides essential resources to further recipients personal and spiritual growth. They are granted funds to attend leadership and faith development programs, allowing them to enrich their knowledge, skills and understanding of the world, or students can use the scholarship funds to support programs that contribute to the greater good, fostering their sense of responsibility and encouraging them to create positive change in their communities.

The Bishop Joseph Grech Scholarship Awards also highlight the collective commitment of Sandhurst secondary schools and CES to foster a culture of excellence, compassion, and social responsibility among the student community. It showcases the power of education, faith, and leadership in nurturing future leaders who are passionate about creating a better world for all.

As we continue to celebrate the accomplishments of these exceptional young individuals, let us be reminded of the enduring legacy of Bishop Joseph Grech, who believed that the youth hold the potential to change the world for the better.

Credit: Catholic Education Sandhurst Limited for information about the ceremony and scholarship program.