EIT student nurse wins scholarship

Kathy Kupenga is humbled to have been a recipient this year of the Te Apa Mareikura scholarship. Photo / Supplied

EIT nursing student Kathy Kupenga was stunned to be told she was to receive the Te Apa Mareikura scholarship, one of only two made nationwide by the Ministry of Health.

The second-year Bachelor of Nursing student was recognised for her involvement in community health, proven leadership and effective community networks and academic results with a $10,000 scholarship.

"I never expected it, but it is humbling to be a recipient. I feel so honoured," she said.

With a strong clinical background, Ms Kupenga served as a medic in the New Zealand Army, a paramedic in the Wellington Free and St John Ambulance services, a Maori adviser in smoking cessation for the Quit Group in Wellington and a health promoter and asthma educator for Turanga Health in Gisborne.

In 2011, she took up a regional role with the Ministry of Justice developing a specialist service minimising the impact of the judicial process on victims of sexual violence.

"For as long as I can remember, I have always been at the forefront, helping people and trying to make a difference."

Representing EIT as a student union delegate on the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and the national chairwoman for Te Runanga Tauira - the "Treaty" arm to the National Student Unit - Ms Kupenga says she is really enjoying the political side of nursing and advocating for students.

Ms Kupenga, in her late 40s, comes from a family of academic achievers. She says learning as a mature student is so much easier, "but at the end of the day, I just want to get out there and do the mahi (work)".

Ideally, she would like to work in acute care - "I'm an adrenalin junkie, plus I think better under pressure."

One of the biggest things she has learned to accept is that sometimes you cannot save everyone or "fix" every social problem or circumstance.