Kalgoorlie student wins state-wide Catholic arts scholarship

6 Nov 2016

6 November 2016

Jasmine made the trip to Perth from Kalgoorlie to be presented with her $1,500 prize at the Catholic Performing Arts Festival at the Perth Concert Hall in September. Catholic arts scholarship winner

The scholarship win means Jasmine will be able to take part in a school excursion to Sydney in April to visit and participate in workshops at Australia’s pre-eminent drama school, the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), and see live performances every night.

Jasmine said she was over-the-moon to have opportunity to see ‘live’ theatre because until now, as a young girl growing up in the rural Western Australian town of Kalgoorlie, her exposure to drama has been predominantly through film. 

Jasmine’s part time job outside of school is at the only video store still operating in Kalgoorlie and she’s one of the store’s greatest customers.

“I’m a big movie fan, particularly the old movies like Westside Story for all the singing and dancing,” Jasmine said.

Jasmine said she was surprised and excited when she heard about her scholarship win, despite her initial trepidation about being “called to the office” where the news was conveyed by John Paul College principal, Mr Bradley Hall.  

She said she ran straight to her drama teacher, Ms Katherine Coulter and “barged in” to her classroom to share the good news.

“Jasmine is hard working and diligent in her drama class, this scholarship has given her the opportunity to attend this once in a life time experience, the scholarship will assist Jasmine to grow and develop as an artist.”

Jasmine attended the presentation ceremony at the Perth Concert Hall with both of her grandmothers who have equally big dreams for their talented granddaughter.

“They want me to go on and be the next Angelina Jolie or someone equally famous,” Jasmine said.

Jasmine’s win has further ignited her passion for drama and for the first time she will be participating in John Paul College’s annual production of Beauty and the Beast in 2017.

It will be a big final year of school for Jasmine with rehearsals for the school production, her trip to NIDA in Sydney and final exams to sit. 

Jasmine hopes her hard work will allow her to go on and combine her love of literature and drama and further her studies at university in Perth.

The scholarship awarded by St John of God Health Care, in partnership with Catholic Arts, was open to Western Australian Catholic school students in years 6 through to year 12 to encourage and make more accessible the pursuit of talent in the arts.

St John of God Health Care is a big supporter of the arts in Australia as it recognises that art in its many forms can improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.