Francene Thomas, second from right, and other scholars discuss health issues with Freemasons Grand Master Mark Winger and Graham Wrigley. Photo / Supplied
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.
