Semester one scholarships handed out at ceremony to help Whanganui UCOL students

UCOL Whanganui campus manager Bronwyn Paul addresses attendees of the semester one scholarship ceremony. Photo / Stuart Munro

More than $30,000 in scholarships was recently awarded to students at UCOL's Whanganui Campus to help with study costs.

Fourteen students were presented with scholarships at the recent semester one ceremony.

The recipients were chosen based on their academic achievements, effort, future plans, character, financial situation and what they add to UCOL and their community.

For bachelor of nursing student Kylie Brown, this marked the second scholarship she has received in as many years.

Brown received an Akoranga Education Trust Scholarship and said that it will help her meet study costs that would otherwise pile up.

"Receiving a scholarship really lightens my financial burden. It helps me keep up with my print credit, which is essential for my studies.

"It helps with buying text books and equipment. I had to buy a stethoscope so I can practice at home and I also don't have to worry so much about things like petrol."

"A cool thing about receiving a scholarship is that my kids see me achieving and they get excited about it. It reinforces for them why mum goes to school. They're my team and they push me."

UCOL Whanganui campus manager Bronwyn Paul said the amount of scholarships have grown over the years thanks to generous businesses and organisations that take pride in seeing students succeed.

"I keep the donors up to date about how their scholarship recipients are going with their studies. That way they can see how the scholarship is helping them," she said.

"The donors are really proud to follow the students' journeys, it's not about them just handing over a cheque."

H & A Print has been providing scholarships for Whanganui students for around 40 years, starting with the Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic before it merged with UCOL.

Owner Ed Boyd said that he and his wife are very happy to support UCOL students to succeed.

"It's great to see what is coming out of UCOL.

"We feel it's great to support people to get an education and who are being taught the right way."

Scholarship Recipients:

Akoranga Education Trust Scholarship
Arama Tuka (NZ Certificate in Automotive Engineering)
Kylie Brown (Bachelor of Nursing)

Arthur Wheeler Leedstown Trust Scholarship
Claire Marara (Bachelor of Nursing)
Jackie Marsh (NZ Diploma in Business)
Ajo Sebastian (Bachelor of Nursing)
Alexandra Kumeroa (Bachelor of Nursing)
Kirikowhai Tauri (NZ Certificate in Cookery)

Chartered Accounts Australia NZ
Aaron McGregor (NZ Diploma in Business)

H&A Print
Catriona Wake (Bachelor of Design & Arts)
Zareena Stadnik (Post Graduate Diploma of Design)

Whanganui Education Trust
Yan Su (Bachelor of Design & Arts)
Tara-Marie Butters (NZ Certificate in Hairdressing - Salon Support)
Marcy Apatu (Bachelor of Nursing)

Wanganui Rotary Club
Hannah Neilson (Bachelor of Nursing)