2023 Wright College Scholarships Appeal
As a former resident of Wright College you will have many - hopefully happy - memories of the old wooden buildings, meals taken in the dining hall, lifelong friends (and partners!) made and possibly mourn the loss of the original Wright College when it was torn down in the 1990s. As the late Dr K.R. (Joe) Massingham loved to point out, Wright College was the first of the residential colleges at UNE, established in 1956 – 67 years ago.
Today, in its 2015 iteration, Wright College is one of the most successful colleges in the UNE residential system. The current Head of College, Jason Wall, is a UNE alumnus, and is enjoying his extremely busy time running Wright College and Wright Village (formerly known as the Claude Street Flats).
Wright College Scholarships
Wright College currently supports two scholarships: one for a new student entering Wright College or Village and valued at $3,000, and a new scholarship for an Honours student valued at $5,000. These two scholarships were keenly sought by students entering Wright College as they alleviated many of the financial pressures faced by students at UNE today. The 2022 Wright Honours Scholarship recipient, Claire Chandler, wrote these words on completing her Honours year:
I would like to thank (you) for choosing me for this scholarship. While I have found this year challenging and busy, the scholarship has helped support me and ensure I can take the time to present my best work. I find it an honour to represent Wright College and Village in this manner.
Funds to support these scholarships have been sourced from donors as well as raised under the leadership of Joe Massingham and Wright College Senior Common Room volunteers and placed in the Martlet Foundation. The UNE Foundation now manages the investment of all scholarship funds, and we have been notified that funds are no longer available to support Wright College Scholarships after 2023.
Over the twenty years or so, the annual Wright Scholarship has been directed to benefit new students from rural or disadvantaged areas who can demonstrate financial need. Testimonies such as Claire’s above confirm that these students have great need for this financial assistance.
Hence, we are writing to you as an ex-Wright student to ask you to donate to our Wright College Scholarship Fund this financial year. 100% of your donation will be put towards the Wright College Scholarships, and if a gift this year is not possible, please consider making a donation in future years or perhaps leave a gift in your will.
Ideally we would like to raise enough funds to endow the two scholarships - an amount of $250,000. Other UNE colleges have been successfully fundraising for endowed scholarships, and we believe Wright alumni are just as keen to support their college.
Donating to Wright Scholarships
If you can give something today, please use the information on the Give to UNE page here. If you would prefer donating by phone, you can contact the Philanthropy office on 02 6773 2431. For all of us who got used to using QR codes during Covid, there is also a QR code at the bottom of this letter which will take you directly to our Wright College Alumni web page where you can find additional information.
More information
On this Wright alumni page you will also find testimonials from recent scholarship recipients, interesting bits of information, old Martlets, and photos of the old Wright College. We’d really appreciate your adding to Wright College’s history by sending us a photo or two or stories from your days in the College.
In addition, photos or stories from the former Claude St Flats which are now part of the Wright precinct could be uploaded to this website. So, if you have something from this period, we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
For more information, or to make contact on fundraising scholarship matters, our Wright College Association executive committee members will be pleased to hear from you.
