ARCSA STEM Scholarships Awards Ceremony 2025 at the Australian Space Discovery Centre
On Saturday, 15 November 2025, the Adelaide Robotics and Computer Science Academy (ARCSA) held its inaugural Scholarship Awards Ceremony at the Australian Space Discovery Centre in Adelaide.
The event marked the public recognition of the first cohort of ARCSA scholars and highlighted the growing collaboration between education, industry and government in supporting South Australia’s future STEM workforce.
A program to support access and recognise excellence
The ARCSA Scholarship Program was established to achieve two objectives: to provide financial relief for families and to recognise students who demonstrate outstanding commitment and performance in robotics and computer science.
Following the launch of the program, families were invited to submit expressions of interest that addressed a set of criteria, including family circumstances, ongoing commitment to ARCSA, classroom conduct and contribution, and passion for STEM.
With the support of Fleet Space Technologies (fleetspace.com), Defence SA (defencesa.com), a private donor and ARCSA’s own Principal’s Excellence Scholarships, 15 scholarships were ultimately awarded as full-year and half-year fee credits applied directly to student accounts.
Industry and government partners
The ceremony brought together representatives from Fleet Space Technologies and Defence SA, both of whom play key roles in South Australia’s space and defence ecosystems.
Speakers from each organisation outlined the importance of building a strong local talent pipeline in robotics, software, engineering, and AI. They emphasised that the students in the room represent the future workforce for the very industries that are driving growth at Lot Fourteen and across the state.
This program would not exist without the trust and support of our partners.
Fleet Space Technologies
Fleet Space Technologies is an Adelaide-based space technology company that deploys satellite-enabled solutions for mineral exploration and industrial sensing. Their investment in full-year scholarships for ARCSA students reflects their commitment to developing the next generation of STEM talent in South Australia.
Defence SA
Defence SA is the South Australian Government’s lead agency for all defence-related matters and includes the South Australian Space Industry Centre. By funding half-year scholarships, Defence SA has helped ensure that capable and committed students can continue to develop skills aligned with the state’s defence and space priorities.
We also gratefully acknowledge a private donor from the ARCSA parents’ community who chose to sponsor an additional scholarship, underscoring the program’s strong community support.
Celebrating the recipients
The formal program in the Australian Space Discovery Centre theatre included:
- A Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country
- An overview of the Scholarship Program and its objectives
- Addresses from Fleet Space Technologies and Defence SA
- Short speeches from two scholarship recipients, who spoke about their learning at ARCSA and what the scholarship means for their families and plans
Following the speeches, recipients were invited to the stage to receive scholarship certificates and gift packs, and to be photographed with sponsors and ARCSA staff. Individual and group photos were taken in front of the partners and ARCSA banners, creating a strong visual record of the collaboration.
Families then had time to speak informally with sponsors, connect with other parents and students, and reflect on the significance of the morning. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many parents expressing appreciation for both the financial support and the public recognition of their children’s efforts.
Establishing a new tradition
The 2025 Scholarship Awards Ceremony represents the beginning of a new tradition for ARCSA. The Academy intends to continue the Scholarship Program on an annual basis, expand the number of scholarships available and broaden the range of partners involved.
By working alongside organisations such as Fleet Space Technologies and Defence SA, as well as committed individuals within the community, ARCSA aims to make high-quality STEM education more accessible while helping to cultivate the next generation of technologists, engineers and innovators for South Australia.
Further information about the Scholarship Program and partnership opportunities is available by contacting [email protected].
