Two local students awarded Endeavour Scholarships

TWO secondary students from Geelong are among the four students and one teacher announced as the winners of this year’s 2025 Endeavour Scholarship.

They will form Mission Team #24, embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime, fully-funded trip to Space Camp USA.

This year’s program attracted more than 90 applications from across Australia, highlighting the nation’s young talent and commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Olivia Dowsley from Kardinia International College and Farzana Mohammad Aref from Northern Bay College will join fellow students Jodi Lawn, Emerald State High School (Queensland)

and Andi Wu from Haileybury College, as well as STEM educator Mark Nethercott from Victor Harbor High School in South Australia on Mission Team #24.

The team was officially announced at the Avalon Australian International Airshow on Wednesday this week in a special ceremony attended by NASA astronauts Charlie Duke and Mike Bloomfield and Katherine Bennell-Pegg; the first astronaut under the Australian flag.

Mission Team #24 will travel to Space Camp USA at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama in July, where they will join fellow students from around the world for astronaut training, engineering challenges, and an extended-duration simulated space mission.

Endeavour Scholarship Foundation executive director Tom Kallman said the scholarship was established to inspire and equip the next generation of innovators and leaders in aerospace and STEM.

“With its rich aviation heritage and cutting-edge research, Australia is poised to be a global leader in these fields.

“The Avalon Airshow provides an extraordinary platform to immerse students in the industry, connecting them with pioneers and present-day leaders who can open their eyes to the limitless possibilities ahead.

“Thanks to the support of the entire USA Partnership Pavilion, the Endeavour Scholarship unites the brightest minds in aerospace to mentor and inspire the next generation of talent. As the global demand for engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers accelerates, we are not just investing in their future – we are actively fuelling the pipeline of talent that will shape the aerospace industry for years to come.

Justin Giddings, chief executive officer of airshow organiser AMDA Foundation, congratulated Mission Team #24.

“The Endeavour Scholarship is more than just a trip to Space Camp – it’s a launchpad for Australia’s next generation of space pioneers,” he said.

“The incredible calibre of applicants this year proves that our nation’s young minds are ready to make their mark in space exploration and STEM.

“Congratulations to the winners of the Endeavour Scholarship for 2025, we look forward to seeing where this journey takes you and how you will shape the future of STEM for years to come.”