Gippsland Grammar student Sophie Alexander, who was among the School’s 90+ high achievers in this year’s ATAR results, is the deserving recipient of this year’s Mildred Lapthorne Scholarship.
Gippsland Grammar Foundation President Jessica Cane made the announcement and presentation to the Year 12 student at the Year 12 Valedictory.
Ms Lapthorne was an Old Scholar attending St Anne’s Campus from 1937-1940. She had a passion for education and understood that rural and regional students sometimes needed extra help to reach their further education goals. In 2020, Ms Lapthorne bequeathed the Gippsland Grammar Foundation a generous gift, enabling an annual $10,000 scholarship for a deserving student to assist with their university costs. Her wish was that this would help the recipient to complete a university degree and for that person to then go on to contribute to society.
Jessica Cane explained the role of the Foundation. She said it was the School’s fundraising arm, raising funds for capital works, such as the new Garnsey Campus Art & Design Centre.
“It is a separate, incorporated entity administered by a voluntary Committee of Management, comprising of parents, former students, staff and friends of Gippsland Grammar. The Foundation provides opportunities for the community to support the School by making tax-deductible donations to benefit our students.
“With our students at the centre of all our efforts, the Foundation Committee oversees programs such as the Annual Giving Day, Scholarships and other major gifts and bequests,” she said.
Ms Cane said the Foundation received 12 excellent applications for the award, all of which were commended by the judging panel.
