Two Illawarra teenagers have been named recipients of Illawarra Centenary of Anzac scholarships.
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Tayla Hogno, of Barrack Heights, and Jai Thompson, of Stanwell Park, are both first year students at the University of Wollongong.
The scholarships, established by the Illawarra Centenary of Anzac Committee, will contribute $5000 a year towards the duo's three-year degrees.
Committee chairman Peter Poulton described the pair as outstanding young adults, who were selected on a range of criteria including scholastic merit.
"When we informed them, they were over the moon," he said.
Mr Poulton said scholarship applicants had to be direct descendants of Australian or New Zealand veterans, involved in war or peacekeeping operations.
"That's to keep the scholarship in the tradition of Anzac."
Tayla is doing a nursing degree with plans to further her studies through a postgraduate degree in advanced nursing.
"It's the best feeling, being recognised for something like that," the 18-year-old said.
"I was shocked to hear that I won it
"I'm extremely grateful and it can help with my HECS debt and my textbooks so that's really good."
Tayla's father, Denis, was a member of 4RAR and in 1965, was part of Australia's commitment to the Malaysia-Indonesian confrontation.
Jai is studying a bachelor of science degree, majoring in lands and heritage management.
"It's going to go a long way towards obviously my fees but also textbooks [and] travelling. It means I can come out the other side of university with a smaller debt," he said.
On one side of Jai's family, his great-grandfather, Sidney J. Lalor, served in both world wars, while his other great-grandfather, Sydney Thomas Thompson, served with the 12th Light Horse Regiment.
"It was a massive honour to be a part of the Illawarra Centenary of the Anzacs because they fought over 100 years ago to protect our country and they deserve to be recognised," Jai said.