24 Nov 2009Article and photo courtesy of Manning River Times
Bright future: Stacks Law Firm managing director, Justin Stack, presents the 2009 Stacks scholarship winner, Murray Taylor, with his prize. Murray will embark on a law/arts degree next year
ST CLARE’S High School graduate Murray Taylor has won the 2009 Stacks Law Firm university scholarship program.
The 18-year-old, who finished his HSC just this month, will receive an $8000 boost as he embarks on a combined arts/law degree at Newcastle University next year.
Murray is the latest Manning/Great Lakes student to be recognised by the scholarship program as having a bright future in the field of legal studies.
Stacks have run the program for the past five years to identify local students who have an interest in studying and building a career in the field of law.
Murray was chosen from a formidable group of candidates that included Taree High’s Sarah Hammond, Chatham High’s Keiran Dixon and Gabrielle Hunter from Great Lakes College.
All four were asked to deliver a 15-minute address at Taree Court House on the effectiveness of the death penalty, as well as being interviewed by a judging panel of Stacks directors and Mr Ted Wright, Dean of the Newcastle University Law School.
Stacks managing director Justin Stack was glowing in his praise for this year’s scholarship candidates. “All our candidates were of an incredibly high standard this year, as they are every year,” he said.
“Murray is a very impressive man who has a bright future in law.”
Murray has a strong interest in humanitarian subjects and international law, and credits the enthusiasm of his legal studies teacher, Jenny Kompara, for his love of the law.
“The law is continually changing,” Murray said.
“There are so many ways of interpreting it. There are so many shades of grey. I think the challenging aspect (of law) is also an attraction for me.”
Though she missed out on the Taree scholarship, Sarah Hammond was the recipient of the Forster Stacks Law Firm award.
