Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic is again offering scholarships for high school students wishing to study locally in 2017.
The scholarships will be launched at the Rotorua Careers Expo from tomorrow where students will be able to pick up additional information and an application.
The Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Scholarships for School Leavers are provided, promoted, and administered exclusively by Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, and are valued at $2,500 each - up from $2,000 in previous years.
The scholarships are open to current Year 12 and 13 students who wish to study full time at the institute's Mokoia Campus in Rotorua.
These scholarships can also save accommodation and travel expenses if recipients are able to remain living at home while they study and if they take advantage of the free busing the institute provides all students in Rotorua.
Former Rotorua Lakes High School student Heremia White was one of last year's scholarship recipients and is now in his first semester of studying toward the Bachelor of Computing, Communications and Technology.
"Studying at [Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic] means I get to stay local and avoid crazy accommodation costs. I love graphics and video editing and Waiariki has the qualification I wanted anyway," he said.
Mr Heremia will be able to major in computing technical, multimedia/web, or systems design as his studies progress.
Mr Heremia's mother Lorna Brell said she was extremely proud of Heremia.
"He is the only male on my side of the family to go forward and get a degree. It hasn't always been easy for us, with myself being a solo mother, but I always wanted him to succeed and just go for gold, so yes I'm thankful to Waiariki for this scholarship opportunity."