Tuesday 8 September 2026

• Sydney Airport announces Angel Marino as the seventh recipient of the SYD100 Scholarship
• SYD100 Scholarship funds up to four years of tuition and $25,000 per annum towards residential fees to study at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) School of Aviation
• SYD100 Scholarship has been awarded annually since 2020 to mark the airport’s centenary celebrations
• Angel joined an airfield tour with a former SYD100 Scholarship recipient who now works at the airport

A childhood flight to Australia sparked a passion for aviation that has seen 18-year-old Angel Marino named the 2026 Trevor Gerber SYD100 Scholarship recipient.

Now in its seventh year, the scholarship supports under-represented groups in aviation, including women and young people from a broad range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

Born in the Philippines, Angel moved to Australia with her family in 2015 when she was seven years old. It was during that journey that she experienced her first-ever flight, sparking an instant fascination with air travel.

Since then, Angel has been immersing herself in aviation, following industry news, watching aircraft overhead and learning more about the opportunities available across the sector.

Her passion grew further through the Australian Air Force Cadets, where she attended air shows, explored aircraft up close and gained first-hand insight into flying.

With the support of the SYD100 Scholarship, Angel is now studying Aviation Management at the University of New South Wales. The scholarship covers up to four years of full tuition and $25,000 per annum towards residential fees.

SYD100 Scholarship recipient, Angel Marino, said: "Receiving this scholarship from Sydney Airport has given me the opportunity to pursue a dream I've had since I was a child.

"I've been fascinated by aviation since my very first flight to Australia when I was just seven years old. Once I caught the aviation bug, there was no turning back and I can't imagine a career in any other industry," she said.

To celebrate the scholarship, Angel and her parents, Marybell and Reynold Marino, joined a special behind-the-scenes Sydney Airport airfield tour.

The tour was hosted by former SYD100 Scholarship recipient Jessie Huynh, who now works in Sydney Airport's Operations team after completing a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Aviation Management at UNSW.

From showing Angel the ropes on the airfield to sharing her own experience of turning a passion for aviation into a career, Jessie offered a unique perspective on the opportunities ahead.

Sydney Airport Group Executive - Government Relations, Sustainability & Legal, Karen Tompkins, said: "The future of aviation is strengthened when talented young people can see a pathway into the industry and have the support to pursue it."

"Angel Marino has the passion, curiosity and determination to make a real contribution to aviation. It's a privilege to support her studies and to see the SYD100 Scholarship creating a growing network of young people building careers across the industry," she said.

UNSW Aviation Interim Head of School, Associate Professor Cheng-Lung (Richard) Wu said: “The SYD100 Scholarship is a powerful example of how industry and universities can work together to help ensure that talented students from diverse backgrounds can access a world-class aviation education and contribute their skills, perspectives and ambition to the industry’s future."

"By supporting students like Angel, Sydney Airport is not only changing individual lives but also helping to build the workforce that Australia’s aviation sector will rely on for the future."

"The success of previous recipients like Jessie Huynh shows the lasting impact of investing in young people and strengthening Australia’s Aviation talent pipeline. We are proud to partner with Sydney Airport on this initiative that is creating meaningful pathways into the industry," he said.

The Trevor Gerber SYD100 Scholarship was first awarded in 2020 to help commemorate the airport’s centenary and to honour former Chair, Trevor Gerber.

Honour Roll: SYD100 Scholarship recipients

2026 – Angel Marino

2025 – Amber West

2024 – Harmony Boonaerts

2023 – Timothy Walker (Graduated)

2022 – Jessie Huynh (Graduated)

2021 – Hoang Tran (Graduated)

2020 – Manmeet Kaur (Graduated)