Elly Mackay
1 July 2025: A total of 20 University of Canberra students have been named recipients of the latest round of Eldon and Anne Foote Elite Athlete Scholarships, which aim to help scholars sharpen their focus on their respective sports.
Each recipient was awarded $5,000 at a ceremony held today. The students, many of whom have represented Australia at the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Championships, will be able to pursue their academic endeavours while continuing to train and focus on their sporting goals, while the scholarships help ease cost-of-living pressures.
This year’s group of athletes compete in 12 different sports, including athletics, soccer, snow sports, cycling, hockey, basketball, gymnastics, swimming and running. An AFL umpire – Emma Loaney – was also named as a recipient, and will be the first female officiant to receive the scholarship.
This year marks a decade of support for University elite athletes from the Eldon and Anne Foote Trust – and a huge number of student athletes who have received financial support via the scholarship.
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor and President The Honourable Bill Shorten expressed his gratitude to the Trust.
“The generosity of the Eldon and Anne Foote Trust is making a meaningful difference to these high-performing athletes,” Mr Shorten said.
“The Trust’s support of the University’s Elite Athlete Program is leaving a legacy with over 100 elite athletes from the University receiving support since the scholarships were first awarded in 2015.”
Director of Sport Partnerships and Engagement, Carrie Graf, said that the Trust has been building a legacy at the University for the past decade.
“The continued support from the Eldon and Anne Foote Trust means that our student-athletes can pursue both their academic and sporting dreams without the stress of the financial pressures associated with their endeavours,” she said.
“We hope that this assistance will help them excel in both the classroom and in their sports.”
At the scholarship ceremony, recipients gathered on campus to network with fellow elite athletes and the UC Sport team.
Ms Loaney, a Bachelor of Communications and Media (Marketing) student, said the scholarship will allow her to achieve greater balance between her studies, casual work, and umpiring duties.
“When it comes to sport and school, I’m actually really grateful that UC has provided me with so much opportunity and support to manage both,” she said.
“It’s not always the easiest, and I don’t think there is another university out there that would provide this level of support.”
The Eldon and Anne Foote Elite Athlete Scholarships are awarded in addition to the University’s long-standing Elite Athlete Program, further affirming the institution as a leading sporting university in Australia.
2025 Eldon and Anne Foote Elite Athlete Scholars
Alesha Bennetts – Athletics*
Alex McKenzie – Soccer
Ari Gesini – Para Athletics
Bentley Walker-Broose – Snow Sports
Claudia Marcks – Cycling
Darcy Macdonald – Hockey
Emma Loaney – AFL (umpire)
Georgia Godwin – Gymnastics
Georgina West – Hockey
Imogen Dorsett – Hockey
Jasmine Greenwood – Para Swimming
Jayda Clark – Basketball
Jesse Moore – Gymnastics*
Kayla Hardy – Swimming
Mitchell Baker – Race Walking*
Mitchell Morgans – Gymnastics
Paige Penrose – Distance Running
Ronan Kovacevic – Cycling
Samuel Johnson – Snow Sports
Sofia Christopherson – Soccer
*Attending 2025 FISU World University Games
