Broadband Solutions gives $5,000 scholarship

Broadband Solutions presented Camberwell High School student John Stamellos with the first $5,000 Innovators of Tomorrow scholarship.

The award was opened to Victorian schools aiming to support students who "are challenging the status quo" or are working to make positive changes around them through innovative vision in technology or science.

The Hawthorn student set up a system that streams live meetings across the campus. He also developed a school TV program and built an information display system.

Broadband Solutions managing director Sam Bashiry said: "All of John’s projects were undertaken to improve the school and in turn improve the learning environment for other students. This is what innovation is about."

"The ideas that have the biggest impact come from the people who are trying to make the world around them a better place. That’s why we need to ensure our youth have the skills and resources to implement their ideas," said Bashiry.

School teachers and principals were responsible for the initial entries and students were later asked to send a summary of their achievements. Stamellos was the first student to be recognised and another student will be announced later this year.

Local member John Pesutto MP, who co-presented the prize, said: "Programs such as these are vital to encourage the leaders of tomorrow to seek leadership and make a difference in their world. Congratulations to the two students who will each receive a $5,000 scholarship and I wish them all the very best in their continued education."

The internet services provider plans to make this an annual event and expand it nationally.

Boradband Solutions came at No. 23 in the 2015 CRN Fast50 growing its revenue by 59.59 percent to $15.4 million.