Albany student awarded inaugural regional scholarship

Albany-raised aspiring marine scientist Lahni Davis has been awarded the inaugural Southern Ports’ Steve Lewis Regional Scholarship.

The 19-year-old, who is in her first year of Advanced Science at Curtin University, met with Southern Ports Chief Executive Officer Keith Wilks, his predecessor Steve Lewis, and Curtin University’s Chief Advancement Officer John Fitzgerald this week to formally accept the scholarship.

Mr Wilks said he’s pleased to see firsthand how the scholarship will open doors for a regional university student and continue Steve’s legacy of building stronger regions.

“We’re thrilled to be able to support Lahni on her journey because doing so speaks to an important part of our vision at Southern Ports of creating strong, sustainable foundations for generations of regional communities,” said Mr Wilks.

“Across our team we have significant expertise, particularly in the marine and environmental fields, and we’re looking forward to extending the opportunity for industry experience to Lahni as part of the scholarship when she joins us for paid vacation work or mentoring.”

Lahni thanked Southern Ports for its support and said the scholarship would mean she would be able to take full advantage of opportunities during her studies.

“I can’t thank Southern Ports enough because this scholarship means I won’t have to worry as much about a lot of the extra things most other uni students have to deal with – especially regional students living away from home,” Ms Davis said.

“I think this scholarship is going to make a big difference both to me and to future recipients – we’ll see people doing great things because of the support it provides.”

Outside her studies Ms Davis is also a keen cricketer, volleyball player and a dab hand with a crochet hook, but said she grew up in a family that “was always at the beach whenever we could be” and that marine science had been her passion from an early age.

She said she was looking forward to the opportunity to work with Southern Ports on her summer holidays.

“If I’m able to be around people in the environmental teams that have gone through a similar pathway to me that is going to be hugely valuable. I know Southern Ports does quite a bit of work with environmental restoration and that it’s involved in the community, but I don’t know the ins and outs of how the ports operate,” said Ms Davis.

The scholarship was established to mark the positive impact and long career of Steve Lewis who retired last year after 25 years in leading ports on both sides of the country as Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Lewis sat on the selection panel which awarded the scholarship to Ms Davis and said the calibre of candidates from the South West, Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern were exceptional.

“The excellent quality of all the applicants is a demonstration of just how much talent we have in our regional communities,” said Mr Lewis.

“I’m honoured that this scholarship will continue to support regional communities and look forward to keeping an eye on how Lahni progresses in her studies over the coming years, as well as future recipients.”

The Southern Ports’ Steve Lewis Regional Scholarship is an annual scholarship available to individuals from the South West, Great Southern or Goldfields-Esperance regions who are or are looking to study an undergraduate degree at Curtin University’s Kalgoorlie or Bentley campuses in the preferred areas of Science and Engineering or Business and Law.

For more information on the Scholarship and to sign up for notifications of future rounds visit the Curtin University website.