Academic excellence is being recognised and rewarded, with the University of Newcastle Central Coast campus holding its annual joint Scholarships and Awards night with Hunter TAFE on Wednesday 5 June as part of Scholars' Week celebrations.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Caroline McMillen, said the event was about celebrating and recognising achievement and potential, as well as thanking the University's generous supporters.

"Scholars' Week embodies one of the most important aspects of our University's mission - a commitment to equity. 

"The University leads the country in providing more opportunities for people with ability and determination to enter and succeed in higher education regardless of their background - such as the students we are celebrating this week.

"The financial help the University receives from individual donors, businesses, industry, professional and community organisations to support these students is invaluable."

A range of scholarships and prizes will recognise academic excellence, sporting talent, artistic and musical abilities.

Central Coast student Marcos Cousens-Schulz who suffers from cerebral palsy is one of the students being recognised at the awards night.

Eighteen-year-old Marcos is studying a Bachelor of Information Technology and is one of the winners of the Shaping Futures Scholarship, which is funded by donations from the public.

"I'll be using my scholarship to help pay for transport to and from university. Sometimes I have to take a taxi to get to lectures and it costs around $80 each way. This scholarship will help ease the financial pressure on my family to pay for transport." 

Other scholarships being awarded include the Edith and Joseph McBride Scholarship, which supports a nursing student studying at the Central Coast campus and four scholarships specifically for Central Coast students, including one for an Indigenous student, funded by Delta Electricity.

Scholarships are also provided by the Killarney Bateau Lions Club, The Entrance Lions Club, the Freemasons and the Co-op Bookshop.

Student prizes are supported by Community Audit Services, Hoddinott Consulting, LWM Group, Kelly and Partners, Robson Partners, Pearson Education Australia, CPA Australia, Australian Federation of University Women, Central Coast Campus Friends, Zonta International, Soroptomist International and the Kindergarten Union of NSW.

Anyone wishing to establish or contribute to a scholarship for Central Coast students can contact the University of Newcastle Foundation on 02 4921 7453 or visit the Foundation website.