Holiday blues are in the air as the start of the school year approaches but not for 200 high achieving Queenslanders who will launch into their year prepared for success.
Before the year had begun, these students were recognised as the ‘best of the best’ and awarded an RSL Youth Development Program (YDP) grant to strive for their dreams in 2012.
To celebrate RSL (Queensland Branch) showcased a small selection of the ‘best of the best’ in Brisbane’s ANZAC Square.
With over 770 expressions of interest received, the Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) followed a rigorous selection process to pin point Queensland’s finest.
Students have been awarded grants for a wide variety of projects. Some ranging from community minded trips to Zimbabwe to help facilitate free eye surgery or outstanding sports stars travelling to England to play professional football for English Premier League clubStoke City FC’sYouth Academy. The talent and ambitions of Queensland’s finest youth have been captured in this program.
RSL (Queensland Branch) Chairman, Terry Meehan, said the exceptional calibre of applications received compelled the decision to increase the total number grants, catering for a further ten percent of recipients.
“RSL Queensland was so impressed by the passion and drive displayed in the applications; this has been recognised with an expansion of the program.”
“This expansion will allow RSL Queensland to proudly foster the dreams of a further 20 students in 2012. I truly believe that recipients of this program are tomorrow’s leaders. This is a vital investment in our future.” Mr Meehan said.
The 2012 program has awarded 200 year 10 and 11 students a share of over half a million dollars in grants.