One lucky student from St Philip’s Christian College, Port Stephens, will take part in the trip of a lifetime to Western Front battlegrounds as part of the 2017 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald and Minister for Veterans Affairs David Elliott announced that St Philip’s Christian College was among 21 schools from around NSW that would take part in the scholarship program next year.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for a student to represent their school and their community,” Mr MacDonald said.

“Premier’s scholars will take part in a 12-day tour of the Western Front in Europe, travelling to significant Australian battlefields in Belgium and France.”

“They will also take part in commemoration events in the town of Ypres in Belgium, and pay their respects to the 38,000 Australian soldiers who lost their lives there 100 years ago.”

More than 130 Government, Catholic and Independent schools across the state entered the ballot for the scholarship. The 21 successful schools will choose one student to take part.

Students from the 21 schools will be asked to prepare a piece of work based on the Centenary of Anzac. Each school will select one winner to participate in the tour.

Mr Elliott said the tour will bring to life the history of the First World War and offer students new insight into Australia’s wartime history and the birth of the Anzac legend.

“The successful student will join scholars from around NSW and take part in what will likely be one of the most memorable experiences of their school career,” Mr Elliott said.

“I look forward to meeting the St Philip’s Christian College scholar when the successful students are announced in March next year.”