21 students have been awarded Whitireia Secondary School Leaver Scholarships for 2010. The students, from Kapiti, Porirua, Tawa, Paraparaumu and Johnsonville secondary schools, receive up to $4,000 towards their first year of study.
Whitireia has been committed to providing quality education, diverse programmes and industry applied skills to students for nearly 25 years. Working closely with schools to transition students into useful and appropriate careers, these awards were proposed by school principals in 2007. Whitireia provides the Wellington region’s largest STAR (in-school) service, is an initiating partner in The Porirua Education Forum and maintains a highly active Principals’ forum to guide and provide feedback on the Whitireia Schools Strategy.
In the third year of this scholarship programme, successful applications have increased from 11 to 22. Chief Executive Don Campbell welcomed and congratulated the students. “I am delighted we can support students in their studies by offering these scholarships. I hope this helps the students to achieve their goals, because their success is our success.” Recipients have used the award to undertake studies in: Certificate in Plumbing, Drainlaying, Gasfitting & Roofing, Certificate in Automotive Engineering, Certificate in Carpentry, Diploma in Performing Arts (Commercial Dance), Diploma in Stage & Screen Arts, Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing Pacific, New Zealand Diploma in Business, Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Visual Arts (Visual Arts & Design).
One of those recipients, Emma Osmond from Tawa College, is enrolled in the New Zealand Diploma in Business. She says “Choosing to obtain the NZ Diploma in Business at Whitireia Polytechnic instead of University was an easy choice, because of the smaller class numbers, the ability for one on one tuition between student and teacher. The other fact is that Whitireia teach what employers want you to know. This course I believe creates freedom in choosing what I want to specialise in as it offers a wide range of knowledge and skills which can be applied to any aspect of the working world”
Samantha Smith, a young mum from He Huarahi Tamariki, is also enrolled on the NZ Diploma in Business at Whitireia. She says “My goal for the future is to graduate with a NZ Diploma in Business from Whitireia Polytechnic. After that I would like to enrol in the degree programme and become a manager or own my own business.”
Tomorrow the students will be officially welcomed to Whitireia with an afternoon tea from 2pm-3pm in A101. Past scholarship recipients will attend to speak with the new students about what lies ahead.
In 2010, the Scholarship recipients and their areas of study are
Bachelor of Applied Arts [Visual Arts]
- Lishan Metuariki John Ex Porirua College
Bachelor of Information Technology
- Moana Davis Ex Aotea College
Bachelor of Nursing
- Madeleine Hill Ex Newlands College
- Jordyn Long Ex Kapiti College
- Jordyne Lyons Ex Tawa College
- Abigail Mills Ex Paraparaumu College
- Myra White Ex Tawa College
Bachelor of Nursing [Pacific]
- Gretta Dette Ex Bishop Viard College
- Motuhia Kirifi Ex Porirua College
- Valerie Williams Ex Mana College
Certificate in Automotive Engineering
- Te Aranga Searancke Ex Otaki College
Certificate in Carpentry
- Clinton Dysart Ex Mana College
Certificate in Plumbing, Drainlaying, Roofing & Gasfitting
- Michael Ioapo Ex Aotea College
- Marcus Tamiau Ex Aotea College
- Lexis Te Whatu Ex Otaki College
Diploma in Stage & Screen Arts
- Shelly Anne Dawson Ex Kapiti College
- Hannah Lockyer Ex Kapiti College
- Te Kotuku Abraham Ex Te Kura Maori o Porirua
Diploma in Performing Arts [Commercial Dance]
- Hannah Candy Ex Paraparaumu College
NZ Diploma of Business
- Emma Osmond Ex Tawa College
- Samantha Smith Ex He Huarahi Tamariki