HomeNewsScholarships for UCOL study recognise potential

Scholarships for UCOL study recognise potential

By UCOL on Friday, 16 December 2016

Alexandra Kumeroa and family

Students from across UCOL’s regions have been recognised for success inside and outside the classroom at a ceremony in Palmerston North this week.

Five secondary school students were awarded Excellence scholarships worth $9,000 each to go towards study in a UCOL degree programme in 2017, and a further 28 secondary school students took home $2,000 Meritorious scholarships for study in UCOL Level 3+ programmes.

“These scholarships, which were awarded for achievement inside and outside the classroom, support the retention of talented students in the region and are an investment from UCOL in each individual and their potential,” says UCOL Executive Director Business Development Arthur Chin. 

Excellence Scholarship recipients
  • Antonio Sami – Palmerston North Boys’ High School, for study in the Bachelor of Design and Arts
  • Bradley Kirkland – Cullinane College, for study in the Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology
  • Rebekah Gribbon – Rangitikei College, for study in the Bachelor of Exercise Sports Science
  • Daniella James – St Peter’s College, for study in the Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging
  • Hannah Neilson – Whanganui High School, for study in the Bachelor of Nursing

Meritorious Scholar recipients
  • Wairarapa College - Jessie Wilkinson & Rhiannon Gwyther
  • Freyberg - Samantha Dench & Tristan Pollard
  • Horowhenua College - Teagan Walsh & Dana Walker-Berry
  • Kuranui College - Monique Keedwell & Ben Delegat
  • Longburn Adventist College - Kylah Paki & Bethany Wilson
  • Makoura College - Mystique Howard & Phoenix Waipuka
  • Ōtaki College - Ethan Dawson & Shania McAsey
  • Rangitikei College - Trudie Mulligan
  • St Peter's College - Emma Hyde
  • Taihape Area School - Teresa Sumich & Emily Playford
  • Palmerston North Girls’ High School - Briana Hooper & Shenae Salisbury
  • Whanganui High School - Tom Clark
  • Cullinane College - Ainslee Pikimaui
  • Awatapu College - Tirina Tangaroa & Dahtel Makea
  • Whanganui City College - Roland Mead & Berllena Herewini

At the event UCOL also awarded six current students with awards to assist their future endeavours.

The UCOL Scholarship for Effort and Achievement went to Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging in Palmerston North student Kara Flintoff, who came to UCOL from a Vet Nursing background to challenge herself to pursue a career in the creative industries and is achieving very high grades. Kara remains involved in animal welfare, and aims to continue achieving highly and start a community arts group in her home town of Shannon.

Paul McElroy Trades Scholarships went to Maehe Thompson of the Diploma in Furniture Design and Making in Palmerston North, and Joshua Borger of the New Zealand Diploma in Construction in Palmerston North. Maehe is passionate about the art and design industry, travelling from Whanganui to study Furniture Design and Making, and embracing his passion of fusing furniture & tradition Māori art practices. Joshua, a trained Armourer tradesman, left the NZ Army to attend UCOL, striving for more qualifications and to become a qualified Quantity Surveyor.

Palmerston North Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology (Applied) student Robert McDermott was awarded the Colleen McPherson Memorial Scholarship. Robert has been affected by a health condition but despite this has excelled and provided a positive, calming presence in classes. 

Ralph Flavell scholarships went to two Health and Science students; Alexandra Kumeroa of the Bachelor of Nursing in Whanganui and Shonta Sutherland of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Imaging Technology) in Palmerston North. Alexandra moved from Australia to study in her hometown of Whanganui and is showing resilience and persistence to succeed in her studies, with an aim to work in a hospital and help others. Shonta has shown leadership during her time at UCOL, encouraging others to strive to achieve their goals. She has a great passion for caring for people and aims to pursue postgraduate studies in Sonography.

UCOL Chief Executive Leeza Boyce said at the event, “as well as awarding scholarships based on academic prowess, we look at students’ achievements outside the classroom and how they have tackled the obstacles that life has thrown at them.”

Mrs Boyce wished each scholarship recipient the best of luck in 2017. 

Pictured above: Whanganui UCOL Bachelor of Nursing student Alexandra Kumeroa (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) with her three children, 17, 12 and 8. 
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