HomeNewsNew scholarships awarded to Whanganui students

New scholarships awarded to Whanganui students

By UCOL on Monday, 31 October 2016

Three people holding a UCOL scholarship

Four students studying at UCOL’s Whanganui campus received scholarships at a ceremony in the campus library last week.

This new round of scholarships was awarded after UCOL secured further funding from donors. Normally UCOL only awards scholarships in the first semester.

“The scholarships were offered by our generous donors outside the normal awards ceremony held in semester one as an opportunity for semester two students to apply for scholarships,” says UCOL Whanganui Campus Manager Bronwyn Paul. Ms. Paul said that the scholarships were awarded to high performing students in order to ease financial hardship. 

“Each of the recipients have achieved high grades, demonstrated great support for their peers, and received positive reviews from their lecturers. They all have inspirational stories and are thoroughly deserving of these scholarships”

Second year Bachelor of Nursing students Gantugs Monkhor and Symmone Yates received Arthur Wheeler Leedstown Trust Scholarships. 

Sarah Bolland (Bachelor of Design & Arts) and Rachel Pirere (Certificate in Science & Health) were awarded Akoranga Education Trust Scholarships.

The Arthur Wheeler Leedstown Trust is a long-time scholarship donor, whereas Akoranga Education Trust has come back on board this round. 

Ms. Paul says the generosity of the donors makes a big difference for students living on a tight budget.    

“The donors are so generous. They don’t specify what the money should be spent on; they just want to make things easier for the students.” 

Scholarship recipient Rachel Pirere says she has enrolled in UCOL’s Bachelor of Nursing programme for 2017 and that the scholarship will help a lot with additional costs. “I’m a single mum, so this means a lot. It will help me pay for things like text books and my uniform, and I won’t have to apply for Course Related Costs from StudyLink.”

“It’s my dream to be a nurse, and when you’ve got a dream you’ve just got to push on through. I’m doing it for my children.” 

Ms. Pirere passed all of her first semester papers with A grades and is aiming to do the same this semester. 

Above image: Scholarship recipients Gantugs Monkhor and Symmone Yates, along with Arthur Wheeler Leedstown Trust Chairperson Hamish MacKay.


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