Ten Rotorua students have been given a major boost to their studies after receiving Sir Howard Morrison Education Foundation scholarships.
During a ceremony at the Rotorua District Council the 10 students, all with links to Te Arawa, were awarded scholarships set up by Sir Howard Morrison in 2005 to support Te
Arawa youth embarking on university study.
Each student is awarded $5000 to go towards course and other related costs for their next year of study.
Manaakitanga Aotearoa Trust representative and Sir Howard's daughter Donna Grant said the trust was responsible for choosing 10 promising students each year to receive scholarships.
The students chosen are studying everything from medicine to law, biotechnology and engineering.
"The good thing about the scholarships is that the students have to have a high overall grade average and have to do a year's study before being assessed for the scholarships," Mrs Grant said.
It was important for local Maori to get into areas of study with which they were not traditionally associated, she said.
Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters said he was proud Rotorua had so many promising young minds furthering their education.
Scholarship recipient Casey Haumaha said the scholarship made her feel "amazing".
Miss Haumaha is studying law at Victoria University in Wellington and plays representative hockey.
"It's great," she said. "It helps fund my hockey fees and my study."
Funds for the scholarships are provided by the Sir Howard Morrison Education Foundation's benefactor John Amos.
The Amos family have promised to fund the scholarships for the next 15 years.
"I feel for our country to go forward it needs Maori leaders. Sir Howard's programme lifts the standard of education and creates opportunities for people to be successful," Mr Amos said.
