Scholarships awarded to outstanding child health researchers
A young researcher with a passion for helping people with Down syndrome has been recognised as the recipient of a prestigious West Australian research scholarship.
25 year old Kitty Foley has been awarded the 'Stan Perron Award for Excellence' for her work over the past year investigating the transition from high school to adulthood for young people with Down syndrome.
The award is one of a number of scholarships supported by the 'Stan Perron Charitable Foundation' recognising the work of exceptional postgraduate students who are undertaking their research at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Subiaco.
Kitty's interest in Down syndrome began through her work as an Occupational Therapist focusing on children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is now in the third and final year of a PhD at the Telethon Institute and has already received national and international interest in her research.
Kitty will use the $5000 Scholarship to travel to a world congress on intellectual disabilities in Canada in July where she will present three papers outlining her research findings.
"To receive the 'Stan Perron Award for Excellence' is incredible and will make a world of difference in me being able to share my work and understanding of the challenges faced by young people with Down syndrome," Ms Foley said.
"It opens up the opportunity for me to make new contacts across the international research arena and to continue studies that I am very passionate about."
The award is one of 15 scholarships presented at a special ceremony at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research which also recognised the support of a number of donors including the Children's Leukaemia and Cancer Research Foundation, the Telethon Adventurers, the Mike-Schon Hegrad Scholarships and the Raine Foundation.
2012 award recipients whose outstanding work at the Institute was recognised:
Stan Perron Award for Excellence:
Kitty Foley
Stan and Jean Perron Scholarships:
Annette Regan
Stephanie Fehr
Rachel Foong
Anna Urbanowicz
(pictured below with Jean and Stan Perron)
Children's Leukaemia and Cancer Research Foundation Fellowship:
Alex Beesley
Children's Leukaemia and Cancer Research Foundation, Wellard Rural Exports PhD Scholarships:
Laurence Cheung
Ashley Schoof
Mike Schon-Hegrad Awards:
Kim Carter and Richard Francis
Girard Good
Richard Francis
Raine Study PhD Scholarships:
Chi Le-Ha
Anett Nyardi
Telethon Adventurers - Elliot Parish Fellowship for Childhood Cancer Research:
Jacqueline McGlade
(pictured below with Emily and Rick Parish)
Telethon Adventurers Scholarship:
Jordan Hansford
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