As the dollar-total for scholarships awarded by the Advance Ashburton Community Foundation reaches $1 million, the lives touched extend well-beyond Mid Canterbury.

"We have people all over the world now who've received scholarships and people throughout New Zealand doing incredible things," the foundation's executive officer Carolyn Clough said.

"They all got a great start through a scholarship with Advance Ashburton. It makes you realise just how incredible our young people are, and I don't think they get enough credit."

Those young people can now apply for the organisation's latest round of scholarships, which gives them the opportunity to pursue education aspirations, industry training and personal development.

And it marks a significant milestone for the foundation, which Cough said, has awarded an overall total of $7.7 million to the community over more than 20 years.

"The first fund for scholarships was the Jaycees fund, which was established in 2008," Clough said.

"Last year, we presented the 100th scholarship from that fund and since then we've established a number of funds that have have a scholarship as part of their purpose.

"And when we present these in January, we've will have surpassed $1 million that has been presented to young people in our district."

Clough said there have been some incredible young people who's benefited from the foundation's scholarships, but one who springs to mind is Rebecca Robinson who received one while doing her nursing study and later when she trained to be a doctor.

She's a junior doctor at Timaru Hospital and has recorded a video for the event, talking about her experiences in the rural medicine immersion programme that she took part in at Ashburton Hospital.

The Advance Ashburton Community Foundation comes from humble beginnings, with a $100 donation from then-mayor Murray Anderson, who was on the first board in 2003.

"And look at where we are now. The scholarships are a smaller part of the greater good that we do, but the $1 million is a real milestone."

Another scholarship recipient that Clough highlights is former Ashburton College student Sarah Rawlings, who recieved the premiere award, the Neil Sinclair Memorial Scholarship in 2023 and is now a teacher at the college.

"That's a wonderful full circle. She was educated here and is now giving back to young people here."

Application forms and more information about the Advance Ashburton Community Foundation scholarships can be found on their website.

The Advance Ashburton Community Foundation Annual Celebration.

Guest speakers: Methven Farmer and special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr, and the clinical director of the Rural Health Academic Centre at Ashburton Hospital, Chris Hill.

Ashburton Event Centre

Tuesday October 21, from 5.30pm

All are welcome, and light refreshements will be served.

RSVP to [email protected]

By Julie Moffett