Chantelle Cobby the recipient of this year's Harold Holmes Scholarship pictured with Ryan Holmes (left) and Murray Patchell, trustees for the fund. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Chantelle Cobby the recipient of this year's Harold Holmes Scholarship pictured with Ryan Holmes (left) and Murray Patchell, trustees for the fund. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Rotorua Girls' High School student Chantelle Cobby has become the 25th recipient of the Harold Holmes Student Grant Fund's annual scholarship.
The scholarship was set up by the late Harold Holmes, a passionate businessman, in 1991 as a way of giving back to the community.
What started as $10,000 isnow worth just under $100,000, his grandson Ryan Holmes said.
In 2012 the family handed management of the trust to the Geyser Community Foundation, however Ryan Holmes remains a trustee.
"I've been doing it for years, since 2008 I believe," he said.
"It's good to give back. Our aim is to grow it and for the awards to become more substantial."
The award ceremony takes place at the first Rotary meeting of the new year, a throwback to Harold Holmes' connection with the group.
Today fellow trustee Murray Patchell introduced the scholarship at the presentation ceremony at the Rotorua Golf Club.
Mr Patchell came on board because "Harold's enthusiasm for getting things done was infectious".
"Seeing young people come through is just amazing," he said.
"It gives me encouragement for the future."
The Holmes family remain involved in the selection of the scholarship recipients, chosen to best represent the values of Harold Holmes.
Grace Williams, who received the award in 2013 and was at today's scholarship presentation, said she went on to study medicine at Otago University.
"The scholarship helped so much in my first year, it helps to have their support around you, and the finance part is really hard," she said.
This year's recipient, the 25th since Harold Holmes set up the trust, was Miss Cobby.
The 18-year-old applied for the scholarship after a teacher mentioned it at school.
"I had heard of Harold Holmes," she said, "I know he's contributed a whole lot."
Headed for Waikato University this year to begin a Bachelor of Communications, Miss Cobby knows that "every little bit counts".
