RICHMOND High School student Kevin Miljojkovic has won the 2017 Natalie Burton Memorial Award for overcoming adversity to succeed at school.
He received a commemorative plaque, certificate and $200 prize money at a presentation night at the school in December.
Kevin, who will be starting Year 12 this year, was nominated last year by English Development Coordinator and Year 11 adviser, Ashlee Koller, who said Kevin was a respectful, kind and positive student who recently lost his mother to cancer.
“During this stressful time, Kevin lovingly cared for his mother. Despite this adversity, Kevin demonstrates a determined attitude and applies himself in a diligent manner,” said Mrs Koller.
“He is consistently positive, considerate and kind to others, as well as mature in his approach to his grief.”
Hawkesbury Mayor, Councillor Mary Lyons-Buckett praised Kevin for his resilience and hard work during the challenging time.
“Kevin is a very worthy recipient of this award as he has overcome great adversity and tremendous grief to achieve. Congratulations Kevin,” she said.
The Natalie Burton Award is administered by Hawkesbury Council on behalf of the Burton, Turner and Lawrance families.
The Award was established in 2004 in memory of Hawkesbury girl Natalie Burton, who died from cancer in March 2003 at the age of 32.
She went to St Monica’s Catholic Primary and was dux of Colo High School, then went on to get first class honours in both science and veterinary science at university and also studied epidemiology at Cornell University in the US.
She came home to the Hawkesbury after being diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumour when she was 25, and had to undergo highly invasive brain surgery and radiation.
Despite this, she climbed lower levels of the Himalayas and cycled around Australia.
The purpose of the award is to provide a means of allowing Natalie’s life and her extraordinary achievements to inspire students to overcome adversity in their own lives.
