Hugh Donaldson will use his scholarship to study at the University of NSW. Photo: Supplied.
Griffith high school graduate Hugh Donaldson has been awarded the 2025 Andrew Craig Engineering Scholarship by local manufacturer Flavourtech, a company that works with food and beverage producers to refine and enhance their products, improving both taste and quality.
The scholarship recognises Hugh’s exceptional commitment to engineering excellence and community service, alongside his passion for technological innovation.
A recent graduate of Murrumbidgee Regional High School (Wade site), Hugh is set to begin a double degree in electrical engineering and computing at the University of NSW in Sydney.
He believes these courses perfectly align with his desire to solve complex problems through technology and hopes his future career will allow him to make a meaningful impact in the Griffith community.
“I’ve always been fascinated by how technology can address real-world challenges,” Hugh said.
“This curiosity has driven me to excel academically and actively seek out opportunities to engage with my community.”
Flavourtech’s engineering scholarship was established as part of an initiative to support students from the Griffith region. Its purpose is to invest in local talent and alleviate the financial barriers faced by those pursuing undergraduate engineering studies.
Leon Skaliotis and Rebecca Rosato of Flavourtech were previous winners of the Employer of Choice gong at the NSW Business Awards. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
The selection committee seeks out students who demonstrate leadership in their communities and show a strong commitment to using engineering as a tool to solve real-world problems.
The scholarship is named in honour of one of the founders of Flavourtech, Andrew Craig, who helped develop the Spinning Cone Column (SCC) technology in the late 1970s and commercialise it from Griffith. This marked the beginning of the Flavourtech story, with many engineers settling in Griffith to help propel the company’s technologies onto the global stage.
Flavourtech’s general manager, Leon Skaliotis explained why Hugh was chosen.
“We were very impressed by the high standard of all the applications we received. Hugh’s stood out, and we are pleased to support him with a financial contribution that will help him maintain his momentum in his studies and fuel his passion for excellence in both engineering and community service.”
The company said Hugh’s journey was a testament to the growing pool of talent emerging from Griffith, and the scholarship was sure to play an important role in furthering his goals in the engineering field.
Two previous winners of the Andrew Craig scholarship, James Laviano and Sophia Pierotti, returned to the company last summer to further develop their skills through work experience while on a semester break from university.
James (2023 recipient) is currently studying a Bachelor in Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Newcastle, while Sophia (2024 winner) is a second-year student at the University of Sydney, studying a Bachelor of Project Management.
