The following submissions are from previous scholars who have experienced all that The Melbourne Foundation has to offer.
Some names have been redacted by request.
Khuzair Rehan
Melbourne Grammar School, 2007 – 2010
| Degree and University | Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) from Monash University. Graduated Dux of Faculty of Engineering (and Department of Civil Engineering) |
| Current job | Senior Consultant, Transport and Infrastructure – KPMG |
| Key achievements / highlights at School | • Fred Hollow’s Foundation tour to Vietnam • Camping trips to Barmah State Forest, Grampians and Wilsons Promontory • Morris House Captain and School Prefect • ATAR of 99.80 |
| Impact of The Melbourne Foundation scholarship | Reflecting back on my time at Grammar, it is difficult to pinpoint any one or two specific impacts. Its legacy is inextricably linked to who I am today as a result of my character development during those formative years. My two key reflections are: 1. I was both given the opportunity and encouraged to take on extracurricular activities. This saw me involved in sports, camps and leadership roles which I hadn’t considered previously for lack of opportunity. These experiences helped me develop my softer skillset and better round out my personality. The house captain role was pivotal, through which I really grew in confidence and stature. 2. I was in an environment that pushed me to excel and enabled me to reach my fullest potential. I still vividly recall my English teacher at my previous school constantly grading me poorly and not offering constructive ways to improve. In Year 9, my English teacher at MGS told me that I had great potential and with the requisite effort, I would do very well in Year 12. This vote of confidence, and the general quality of teaching at the school, allowed me to perform as well as I did academically. This impact drives my current involvement in the TMF management team. I know there are deserving students out there who would maximise an opportunity like this. |
Evan Avtzis
Melbourne Grammar School, 2009 – 2012
| Degree and University | B.Arts and B.Laws from Monash University |
| Current job | Lawyer, KCL Law (Family Law) |
| Key achievements / highlights at School | • Achieved an ATAR score of 97.45 • Played 1st XV Rugby at AAMI Park Stadium • Captained 2nd XV Rugby Team and awarded best and fairest medal • Awarded house colours and tutor group captain for involvement in house activities |
| Challenges | • Adjusting to such a drastically different schooling environment • The commute in the morning |
| Key learnings | • The importance of determination and persistence in achieving one’s goals • The value of giving back and volunteering one’s time and efforts to those not as fortunate • That in the right environment and with a little help, it is possible to achieve one’s goals, however aspirational they may have seemed. |
| Impact of The Melbourne Foundation scholarship | It is difficult for me to quantify just how great an impact the Melbourne Foundation Scholarship has had on my life, or how drastic an effect this scholarship has had on the person that I have become. It goes without saying that, had I remained at my previous school, the notion of having a former Prime Minister visit my school and speak to my politics class, playing rugby at AAMI Park Stadium, or going on an excursion to Canberra to visit Parliament House, would have been such an outlandish concept that it would beggar belief. The true value of my education within the bluestone walls of Melbourne Grammar however, goes beyond these exciting highlight events. With the benefit of hindsight, I can honestly say that it was the people at Melbourne Grammar, both the teachers and the students, which had the greatest impact on me as a person. The education I received extended beyond the educational curriculum to imparting me with skills such as leadership and critical thinking, and honing values such as community involvement. These are lessons for which I will forever be grateful to my former teachers. Furthermore, the students I went to school with, many of whom are now my professional colleagues and lifelong friends are people who I simply would not have met without this opportunity. These former students (now young professionals) have equally had an enormous role in shaping who I have become. As a result of my time at Melbourne Grammar, made possible by the Melbourne Foundation, I was able to achieve an ATAR score that granted me entry into my dream tertiary course of a Bachelor of Arts and Laws at Monash University (my first preference), where I was the recipient of a subsequent scholarship through the University. During my tertiary studies (and with the benefit of this subsequent scholarship) I was fortunate enough to travel to India where I experienced a whole new culture and volunteered at a school for disabled children. I was also able to study abroad in England at the University of Warwick. I am now admitted to practise as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria, and working as a lawyer in Family Law. This is something that that previously I would have viewed as an unachievable aspiration. I have the Melbourne Foundation to thank for assisting me in achieving all that I have, and all that I will achieve in future. |
Jackson Bence-Collin, Melbourne Grammar School, 2016-2019
| Degree and University | B.Science – Computing and Software Systems, University of Melbourne |
| Current job | Machine Learning Research Engineer |
| Key achievements / highlights at School | • Headed Volunteering Committee • State Level Debating • 99+ ATAR • List of Distinctions, High Distrinctions, Prize Winning Performances and Captaincies. |
| Challenges | I encountered only two difficulties during my time at MGS. The first was managing the time required to travel to school, which for me, was more than 3 hours daily. This, luckily, was a rather trivial complication that was fixed by realising this was the perfect chance to do aural language practice. The second problem was that there were too many opportunities! I spread myself too thin trying to immerse myself in every possible activity. Fortunately, this mistake was made in first year, which allowed me to narrow the fields of my interest and effort, resulting in a further three enjoyable years. |
| Key learnings | Excuse the cliché, but what I really feel the need here to say is, the most pivotal thing I learnt during my time at MGS, is who I am as a person. From the welcoming student cohort to the dedicated teachers, and spectrum of available opportunities, everywhere you looked was a new possibility. And these possibilities culminated to reveal who I truly was, and what it was I really wanted to do. |
| Impact of The Melbourne Foundation scholarship | This is tough for me, for I struggle to articulate the impact that The Melbourne Foundation had, and is still having, on my life. Working perhaps in a chronological order, the first thing that I must mention, is the different calibre of student at MGS. This competitive peer group really provided the motivation, to continually reach for your very best and never slack. In a similar manner, the multitude of prospects allowed for unprecedented growth of emotional intelligence through volunteering initiatives, and physical growth through weekly sport endeavours. From this, it may be seen just how The Melbourne Foundation has had a drastic impact on my whole being; socially, academically, physically and emotionally. However, the impact of The Melbourne Foundation was not limited to my time at MGS. It was due to this high school scholarship, that I was able to continue on and receive tertiary scholarships; not one, but four. One of which, was accommodation and provision of food for the entirety of my undergraduate duration. Prior to these offerings, my future prospects were to join the defence forces, which should provide weight to the statement I am about to make; The Melbourne Foundation irrefutably changed my life for the better. So now, I hope you can gather even the faintest glimpse into the impact that The Melbourne Foundations Scholarship had on me and my mother. |
Ayaan Ahmad, Melbourne Grammar School
| Year of Year 9 entry / Year 12 graduation | 2018 / 2021 |
| Key achievements / highlights at School | • Trip to Vietnam, where I built two houses for families living in poverty in the Mekong Delta • Beyond The Gates camp in year 10, where I went to the High Plains and NSW for 3 weeks and took part in hiking, cycling, and rafting • Being able to speak in Chapel for the first time in year 10, in front of upwards of 140 people about something that I felt very passionate about • Taking part in a community service initiative that required me to teach a disadvantaged primary school student literacy and numeracy • Being appointed the School Vice Captain of Melbourne Grammar School |
| Key learnings | If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past three and a half years at MGS, it’s that staying true to oneself is enough to get you through any hardship. Situations like the camps I went on tested my limits but ensuring that I worked for and with my peers, there was no challenge too big or too small. A school like MGS encourages you to move beyond your boundaries and comfort zone, only for you to come out the other side ten times the person you were before. This message is emphasised so much at School that I feel that in any avenue of life now, it’s difficult for me to engage in any task and be happy with staying within my limits, which only allows me to be the best person I can be. |
| Impact of The Melbourne Foundation scholarship | There’s no doubt that I wouldn’t be able to go to a school like Melbourne Grammar if it weren’t for The Melbourne Foundation. Through the Foundation, I’ve been able to experience things I could never even imagine, met people I’d never be able to, and go to places beyond my imaginations. The culmination of these experiences has made me who I am, and that’s entirely attributed to the people behind The Melbourne Foundation for allowing me the opportunity to undertake them. |
| Other thoughts: | Something that’s left a monumental impact on me as a person is the quality of the relationships I’ve formed – with my closest friends, with The Melbourne Foundation, and the donors that fund the scholarship. Every single one of the people that I’ve met as a result of this scholarship has helped make me a better human being and inspired me to work for those less fortunate than myself. Because of the generosity of the donors, I’ve also begun to dedicate my time to those in the wider community who are disadvantaged, which is something that will remain with me forever, and something that I can never pay back. |
Caitlyn Le, St Catherine’s School
| Year of Year 9 entry / Year 12 graduation | 2018 / 2021 |
| Key achievements / highlights at School | • Elected Duke of Edinburgh Captain for 2021 • Elected House Social Services Captain for 2021 • Elected House Swimming Captain for 2020 • Making it to finals division in GSV Swimming 2018, 2020 & 2021 • Completing Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh award – currently working towards Gold Award • Year 9 Fiji Camp (Heyington to Highlands) |
| Challenges | Getting used to the commute to school – catching public transport |
| Key learnings | • Knowing how to balance academic, co-curricular and family throughout every-day life • Being around a smaller cohort was beneficial for me; had a chance to develop closer friendships |
| Impact of The Melbourne Foundation scholarship | Receiving The Melbourne Foundation Scholarship has allowed me to expand my boundaries, whether it be in terms of either academics and co-curricular. I was able to go out of my comfort zone and try new sports or clubs I wouldn’t usually be interested in, and St Catherine’s had enabled me to do this through their great range of facilities. I was given an abundant amount of opportunities at St Catherine’s, such as apply for a Year 12 2021 leadership position, in which I was elected to be Duke of Edinburgh Captain. I found that having a smaller cohort put me at an advantage, as all of the girls are extremely close. This has made me focus and ask more questions in a much smaller class very easily and confidently. The Scholarship has also allowed me to expand my connections and networks with my peers at school, this is beneficial for me as it provides ground support for when I graduate from St Catherine’s and enter the work field after University. When being provided with new opportunities at school, I was able to make new friends with girls from all year levels and be a lot more involved within the school community. Additionally, I admire the fact that St Catherine’s has a range of sporting facilities that girls can participate in each term, and I usually was involved in swimming, soccer and basketball. Lastly, The Melbourne Foundation team has assisted me in discovering what I would like to do in the future, such as studying in University when I graduate in year 12. As well as being supportive and accepting based on what pathway I decide to choose. Ultimately, I was able to grow as an individual during my time at St Catherine’s with The Melbourne Foundation Scholarship. |
Name Withheld, Melbourne Grammar School
| Year of Year 9 entry / Year 12 graduation | 2018 / 2021 |
| Key achievements / highlights at School | Some of my key achievements and highlights at school include: • Playing for 1st XI in Soccer and participating in the tour to Gold Coast • Being a member of the 1st squad for Athletics and winning multiple gold medals in the 400m and 800m events • Receiving a distinction (top 5%) in the Rio Tinto Big Science Competition • Participating in the school’s Beyond the Gates (BTG) outdoor education program |
| Challenges | One notable challenge moving into year 9 was being unable to establish meaningful relationships between my peers and myself for a brief period of time, something which I have now successfully been able to do and can now cherish for the rest of my life. |
| Impact of The Melbourne Foundation scholarship | The Melbourne Foundation scholarship has affected me in a various number of ways including better access to an elite education, improved access to opportunities and being exposed to a healthy, learning environment. With regards to the education, this scholarship has taken me from learning of average quality to one that is at the pinnacle of schooling. Melbourne Grammar School is home to perhaps the most qualified and motivated teachers in Australia, thereby meaning that I am not only given the greatest opportunity to succeed in VCE, but also am being developed holistically. Without the Melbourne Foundation scholarship, I have no doubt that I would not be the person I am today and equally, achieve such results. With this comes improved access to opportunities both inside and outside of the schooling curriculum. Melbourne Grammar gives its students a wide-range if initiatives to consider, ranging from sporting teams and competitions to social justice alike. Personally, I pride myself in being involved in the school’s various social justice programs as I believe it is the least that I could do to give back to the community and without this scholarship, these aspects of my life would not be made possible. |
| Other thoughts: | Some comments on my behalf to any future donors looking to support the Melbourne Foundation are that by being a part of this program, you will not only have the joy in witnessing the growth of future applicants but will also have the most profound effect on these children’s and family’s lives. |
Name withheld, St Catherine’s School
| Year of Year 9 entry / Year 12 graduation | 2020 / 2023 |
| Key achievements / highlights at School | • Being nominated as the Student Representative Council of Year 10 Beaulieu Blair • Participating as a Coxswain in rowing (2020) • Performing my classical dancing at the Senior Recital • House Debating • House Public Speaking |
| Challenges | Initially, I struggled quite a bit trying to balance the new schedules, school, students and found difficulty to adjust. As the majority of the training for the sporting co-curriculars are early morning, it is a little challenging having to commute to school via public transport. |
| Key learnings | As we progressed from Year 9 to Year 10, I have perceived that there is a significant increase of work and while this was challenging it has been a great learning experience as it has allowed me to create schedules to efficiently complete work. By undertaking the Leadership Diploma, I was required to complete 8 hours of voluntary service. I chose to do this at St Vincent De Paul’s, a charity organisation which entailed me to complete jobs such as reorganising, cleaning and customer service. This experience has appointed me with values of independence, gratitude and capability. |
| Impact of The Melbourne Foundation scholarship | Being one of the recipients of Melbourne Foundation scholarship has allowed me to meet numerous other past and present scholars and management team that have served as role models and companions to me. Meeting these intellectual individuals has given me the opportunity to learn from their experiences and adapt admirable qualities that have greatly assisted me in my life. It has helped me interact with a wide range of people that have different strengths, backgrounds and abilities essentially broadening my horizon and adding to my personal growth. In addition, it has created an exclusive community where I am able to exchange information and share ideas without the fear of being judged. This journey has helped me gain self-confidence and has opened my mind to fresh perspectives and diverse ideas. While it can be considered as one of the more obvious impacts, the foundation has granted me the opportunity to attend one of the best schools in Melbourne, that has truly catered to my needs and interests. Attending St Catherine’s School has supplied me with lifelong skills and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. I was given the chance to participate in new activities like rowing, that not only taught me how to row but taught me qualities of teamwork and leadership. Although I am constantly expanding my capabilities, I am also able to employ my interests in dance and public speaking through House completions such as House Public speaking, House Debating and House Arts. This was instrumental as it allowed me to further develop these skills and form new friendships with others that had similar passions. Furthermore, I have acquired a great friendship group, that have continually supported and welcomed me into the school while also pushing me to achieve my full potential. Overall, the Melbourne Foundation Scholarship has proved to be extremely beneficial to me in my schooling years. The foundation community has enabled me to excel academically, whilst supporting and encouraging my efforts. I am very grateful to be provided with the opportunity of attending this amazing school where I am able to learn new things and meet multiple inspiring individuals. |
Name Withheld, St Catherine’s
| Year of Year 9 entry / Year 12 graduation | 2020 / 2023 |
| Key achievements / highlights at School | • I received the academic excellence award at presentation night • Participating in year-end traditions at the school (e.g. year 12 send-off) • Participating in extra-curriculars (e.g. GSV sports, choir) • Exploring subjects I had not done before Cross country, athletics, house arts |
| Challenges | Balancing school work and extra-curriculars; planning out time better |
| Key learnings | Trying new things outside of your comfort zone |
| Impact of The Melbourne Foundation scholarship | I am extremely grateful for the support I have received and very appreciative of the chance to have this scholarship. Otherwise, I may not have had the wonderful opportunity to study at St Catherine’s, where I am really enjoying being at. I experienced a range of new things and participated in different activities, all of which I found very interesting. My highlight of the term was definitely GSV softball, it was an experience I was able to learn a lot from and build on my skills from. It was also very exciting to get to the finals, which had been the first time for our school in a long time, making it even more memorable. I also found making friends very smooth and it was nice to have friends to support me, especially at the start, where everything was still very new and sometimes I would need help to find where classes were. Additionally, the athletics competition was really fun, especially with the teamwork games in between, where we did challenges in small groups against the other houses. I have learnt a lot of new things so far. First of all, being at this new school, has allowed me to gain a lot of new experiences, from which I have learnt valuable things, like maintaining resilience, that can be used later on in life. Secondly, I have made a group of really great friends that mean a lot to me. I met people I didn’t think I would be friends with before, but actually got along great with, and on top of that, over time, I feel that my personality has become more outgoing and extroverted, which I feel is a significant step for myself. Overall, this scholarship has made a big difference in my life and I am very thankful to have had the chance to go to this school, where I am open to a wide range of opportunities and experiences, learning new things and meeting new people along the way. |
Name Witheld, St Catherine’s School
| Year of Year 9 entry / Year 12 graduation | 2020 / 2023 |
| Key achievements / highlights at School | Achievements: • 2020 Academic Excellence Award • 2020 Arts Award • 2020 School Spirit Award • Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Highlights: • Participating in the 2020 House Arts competition • Making and strengthening new friendships • Attending the Alliance of Girl Schools Australasia’s 2021 International Women’s Day breakfast |
| Challenges | • Adjusting to the length of the commute to school on public transport • Breaking into friendship groups during a year of lockdowns and remote learning |
| Key learnings | • I can’t try to take on too much at once • I need to take regular breaks in order to let myself rest so that when I refocus upon a particular task I am at my optimum concentration levels • I need to keep my extracurricular activities going to ensure I have a balance of school, homework, extracurricular activities, social time and rest time. |
| Impact of The Melbourne Foundation scholarship | Receiving a Melbourne Foundation scholarship has opened up many doors for me that I had not seriously considered in the past, such as potential career pathways and other opportunities to challenge myself and further grow as a person. I have been gifted with the chance to affiliate myself with the supportive and empowering community of St Catherine’s School and to thrive in an environment which consists of many students who are like-minded to me and who likewise wish to earn the best they can for themselves whilst also assisting others. I believe that this Melbourne Foundation scholarship, without which I would be unable to attend St Catherine’s School, has put me in an optimal position for reaching my full potential and pursuing my dreams through the quality education and connections that I am now accruing. I have been provided with the opportunity to achieve my bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 2020, and at the time of writing this, I am currently working towards completing my silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and will soon be embarking on the adventurous journey trip with St Catherine’s School. The adventurous journey and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award itself is a challenging but rewarding experience which fosters independence, commitment and perseverance to skill development, physical activity and community service over several months. I have felt immensely proud of the manner in which committing to this project has displayed positive aspects of my character and also highlighted and given me the opportunity to address the aspects which need more enhancement, and I would not be able to do so to such an extent without being a recipient of a Melbourne Foundation scholarship. |
| Other thoughts | I am very grateful not only for the generosity of my sponsors and The Melbourne Foundation, but also for my family and close friends who supported me during every step of the scholarship application process and my transition into St Catherine’s School, and how these aforementioned people are still supporting me along my journey to becoming the person I wish to be upon graduating from St Catherine’s School. |