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Cobar’s Chad Buckman awarded Origin Energy Scholarship Cobar’s Chad Buckman has won the 2023 in the 2022 HSC, was a Boarder Vice-Captain Origin Energy Foundation Grant King In- and Dux of 2022 at Farrer Memorial Agriculdigenous scholarship to help study a Bache- tural High School and is listed on the HSC lor of Engineering (Honours) degree at the Honour Roll for both Engineering Studies and University of NSW, Sydney. Mathematics Advanced. The Dean of UNSW Engineering Professor He has also won numerous academic and Stephen Foster presented students with their leadership awards. scholarships at an official event last Wednes- Additionally, his community-minded spirit day evening at the University of NSW. has seen him take part in many local initiatives Head of the Origin Energy Foundation with not-for-profits. Michelle Zahra said the scholarship program Chad is in his first year of the four year dewas intended to address the under- gree. representation of First Nations peoples in “The dream is to work in Formula 1,” Chad STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and told The Cobar Weekly. Maths) based careers. “I think it’s the pinnacle of engineering, de“Chad Buckman has shown excellent leader- signing the cars. ship and academic success throughout his high “Although I still haven’t decided if I want to school years. leap into that with two feet but it’s definitely an “That success, combined with his community option or a career path that would be exciting mindedness and passion for engineering makes nonetheless,” he said. us so proud for him to be named this year’s “Engineering could take me anywhere, all Origin Energy Foundation Grant King Indige- over the world. I could end up in a mining nous Scholarship recipient,” Ms Zahra said. town, we’ll see how we go.” “First Nations Australians were our first sci- He said the full residential scholarship has entists and our first engineers and STEM ca- helped him “tremendously” and enabled him reers are the careers of the future.” the opportunity to study at UNSW, his univerShe praised Chad’s outstanding achievements sity of choice, which Chad said has the best to date and said they look forward to support- engineering program. ing him with his studies and following his ca- The Origin Energy Foundation Grant King reer journey. Indigenous Scholarships program was estabA Kamilaroi man, 19 year old Chad’s interest lished in 2017 with a $5 million gift to the Uniin mechanical engineering started at an early versity of NSW to support First Nations stuage. dents in pursuing a career in STEM. Unlike many other children his age, Chad Chad is the eighth student to receive support didn’t grow up playing video games. through the program, which forms part of the Instead, he spent his time building things – Origin Energy Foundation’s philanthropic from LEGO to cubbies and BMX tracks in the grants program supporting Australian nongarden. profit organisations that use education to help Chad achieved outstanding academic success young people to reach their potential.
Cobar’s Chad Buckman is studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree at the University of NSW and was last week announced as the recipient of the 2023 Origin Energy Foundation Grant King Indigenous scholarship. Chad is pictured at the UNSW’s presentation with Grant King and Head of Origin Energy Foundation Michelle Zahra. ▪ Photo contributed
Wednesday June 28, 2023 The Cobar Weekly Page 5
