Students up for High Performance awards

Photo/file

Eight local students will be proud recipients of this years Bay of Plenty Polytechnic High Performance Academy scholarships.

The winners of the 2015 scholarships are Abby Goldie (track sprinter), Alex Hawthorne (kayak), Amy Robinson (hockey), Beniece Douch (volleyball), Lauren Clarke (squash), Max Schroder (volleyball), Nik Ansorge (cycling), and Thomas MacRury (cricket).

All scholarship winners will receive their year's tertiary fees paid, access to the Polytechnic's sport and fitness centre, including performance sport testing, as well as education, sporting and lifestyle support services provided by a High Performance Manager.

This year saw more than 30 applicants apply for the scholarships.

Beniece Douch, an emerging volleyball star and a Diploma in Tourism (Event Management) student is up for the High Performance Sports scholarship.

Scholarships are open to all students studying full-time at the Polytechnic who are competing at a national or international level in their sporting area, allowing athletes to balance both career and sporting aspirations.

"It just takes a load off," Beneice said in a media release today.

"I don't have to worry about working too much knowing that I have financial and sporting support. I can focus on studying and improving my sporting performance."

The scholarship winners will be recognised and celebrated at an awards ceremony this coming Thursday where former Silver Ferns netball player Jodi-Tod-Elliot will be the guest speaker.