ST FRANCIS College year 12 student Maddie Kennedy is destined for great things in life, with a recent award solidifying that statement.
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Maddie was recently announced as the statewide recipient of Zonta International's achievement award for a young Indigenous woman.
Zonta International is a leading global organisation of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.
Zontians in District 24, which covers most of NSW and the ACT voluntarily apply their time and talents to working locally and globally, on a variety of service projects and advocacy initiatives, to advance the economic, professional, educational, health, legal and political status of women.
The award Maddie received is designed to recognise and celebrate the achievements of young Indigenous women currently enrolled in year 12.
Maddie was encouraged to apply for the award by her year adviser Brendon Greatz, who described her as a dedicated and conscientious student and community member.
"Maddie is very deserving of this award," Mr Greatz said.
"She's a hard worker who has a big future ahead of."
The young Leeton shire resident plans to go to university next year to begin studying a tertiary degree in education.
In applying for the award, Maddie was required to outline her personal goals, give details on her Indigenous heritage and describe a person who has influenced her.
For the latter she chose her pop, saying how grateful she was to both him and her nan for bringing her up since she was born.
"The values and qualities such as hard work, resilience and dedication he has shown to me and my five siblings is something I admire," Maddie wrote.
"I hope to gain this wisdom as I get older.
"He has undergone many challenges within his life, losing his daughter, yet the empathy and strong-willed determination in him is never lost."
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Pending COVID-19 rules and restrictions, Maddie will attend the Zonta District 24 Conference in September at the Novotel Hotel in Parramatta.
She said receiving the award came as a shock.
"It was definitely a surprise," Maddie said.
"It's a really big honour.
"I know my nan and pop are really proud of me."
Looking ahead to the completion of her Higher School Certificate, Maddie hopes by completing her university education and becoming a teacher she will be able to inspire the next generation.
"To be able to inspire and be a role model for Indigenous children as they learn their way through the early stages of life would truly fulfill my hopes and aspirations for the coming generation," she wrote in her submission.
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