A young woman going places

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS: School-leaver Scarlet Conquest was this week presented Tourism Eastland’s inaugural scholarship by Tourism Eastland’s co-presidents Chris Savage (left) and Penny Shaw. The $500 scholarship will go towards her diploma course at the New Zealand School of Tourism. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

A Gisborne school leaver who is to study towards a diploma at the New Zealand School of Tourism is the recipient of Tourism Eastland’s inaugural scholarship.

Lytton High School’s Scarlet Conquest was this week presented with the $500 scholarship.

Tourism Eastland has made the annual scholarship available for secondary school students with an aptitude for tourism as a career path.

The money goes towards the student’s education or training in tourism.

Scarlet completed her Year 13 study at Lytton High this year and in January begins a two-year diploma course at the New Zealand School of Tourism in Wellington.

“I love travelling,” said Scarlet. “Since I was born I’ve have travelled around New Zealand a lot. I’ve travelled overseas three times.

“This year I went to Fiji and since then I thought I’d love to do something in tourism.

“In October my school sent me and a couple of friends to QRC (Queenstown Resort College) in Paihia.

“That gave us a taste of all the different courses and what they are about.”

Scarlet plans to eventually move into aviation and hotel management.

Tourism Eastland co-president Penny Shaw announced the scholarship at the organisation’s AGM.

Local secondary schools were then given details.

“We requested schools nominate one student who they believed would succeed in this industry,” said Mrs Shaw.

“Tourism demands commitment, reliability and most important the right attitude for hard work.”