High flyers mentor talented Tauranga youngsters

Western Bay orthopaedic surgeon Tony Lamberton and former Chief of Defence force Sir Bruce Fergusson have been matched up with two Tauranga Boys' College students in the school's new accelerate mentoring programme.
The programme will see selected students, who achieve academically, matched up with experts in a range of fields. The programme is designed to inspire the students, help them learn from their mentors and gain understanding in their field of interest.
The scholarship programme has three levels - gold, silver and bronze - and accelerate students are recognised in Year 11 and 12 and invited into the programme.
Deputy principal Richard Hall said there were numerous incentives at each level, which encourage the students to push beyond their capabilities.
At gold level, students will have their own scholarship space, with a key and access any time during the day. They'll have priority entry to programmes and events outside of the school and Tauranga as well as a space where they can study with subject experts.
On top of this, selected students will spend one-on-one time with industry experts.
The top two scholars will be given the opportunity to go to Australia this year and inspect universities, Mr Hall said.
Mr Hall said the mentoring programme was a huge asset for the school.
"At the moment those involved are local and we're aiming to use local experts but there are so many possibilities in the future for this to expand," Mr Hall said.
Students at silver level will also see rewards, such as mentoring from teachers.
Mr Hall said the accelerate programme was the product something the school had been working toward over the past few years.
The programme was implemented after Tauranga Boys' College achieved immense success after last year's scholarship examinations.