A Kaitaia woman is one of eight postgraduate students from around the country who have received a $6000 Freemasons University Scholarship.
Francene Thomas, who is studying towards a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) majoring in psychology at the University of Waikato, received the scholarship at a ceremony at Parliament's Grand Hall last week.
Thomas has completed more than 250 volunteer community service hours in Northland and Waikato, including mentoring at-risk youth for the Blue Light holiday programme, and for eight years she was a cadet in St John's Cadet Programme.
In addition to this, she is a keen kickboxer. In 2014 she was Far North Thai Boxing's most consistent student. A year later she was its most consistent, most dedicated and most outstanding female student.
The Freemasons University Scholarships is the largest privately-funded scholarship programme in New Zealand. Many of its alumni, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, can be found in key positions in New Zealand and many overseas countries.
Thomas hopes to complete a master's degree in cognitive psychology later.