Whanganui student Brianna Walker wins inaugural Wynne Costley Research Scholarship presented by National Council of Women

Brianna Walker receives the Wynne Costley Research Scholarship award from National Council of Women Whanganui branch president Jenny Saywood.

Whanganui High School student Brianna Walker has won the inaugural Wynne Costley Research Scholarship.

The award was presented at a function organised by the Whanganui branch of the National Council of Women (NCW) to celebrate the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage.

Wynne Costley, a long-time member of NCW, a teacher of English, Latin and French, and a staunch advocate for women, believed strongly in encouraging students to aim high academically.

The scholarship was open to all students who had completed a research assignment during the year on a New Zealand woman, or women, who has contributed or is still contributing in a distinctly definable way to society, Whanganui branch president Jenny Saywood said.

Subjects chosen by the Whanganui High, Whanganui Collegiate and Whanganui Intermediate school students included Kate Sheppard, Jean Batten, Dr Emily Siedeberg and Lesley Elliot.

The senior prizewinners were Brianna Walker (1), Hannah Lawler (2) and Rhian Robertson (merit) with Olivia Bedwell and Sophie Bedwell placed equal first in the junior section.

Brianna was the overall winner, receiving $500 and a trophy in addition to the $500 for winning the senior category.

"If Wynne had been here she would have been thrilled to think that her branch of NCWNZ were recognising the endeavours of these bright young women," Saywood said.

Brianna, 17, wrote her essay about Kate Sheppard and the suffrage movement.

"I thought it was a really significant event for our country," Brianna said.

"It's really important to our history and world history in general. I'm proud that our country allowed women to have that right to vote.

"I was overwhelmed because I didn't think I'd win. I'm really grateful that I had the opportunity to win it because it will help a lot next year when I go to university."

Brianna will study law at Victoria University of Wellington and plans a career in criminal law.

To acknowledge the 125th year of suffrage, NCW put together a display of Whanganui women, some relatively unknown, who were involved around the time of the suffrage movement and made a significant contribution to the Whanganui community.

Margaret Campion, who did the research, spoke at the function about some aspects of the women's work.