10 October 2006

Manukau students rise to business challenge

Last week six teams of senior students from five Manukau schools went head-to-head in the second annual Plantation Business Challenge, which provides local students with the opportunity to develop and present a business plan and compete for more than $36,000 worth of scholarships to further their business studies.

‘Filosofood’ from Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in Otara was named the winning team at the awards ceremony held last Friday at Manukau City Council, for their interactive children’s cook book promoting healthy eating habits and cooking skills amongst children. Stacey Benioni, Elenoa Lua, Romeo Aiga and Luai Maiava received a team scholarship worth $10,000 towards further study at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) or Auckland University of Technology (AUT).

Manukau City Council proudly supports the challenge, which provides Manukau students with the opportunity to focus on business skills and offers valuable scholarships for business studies.

Councillor Colleen Brown, who attended the award ceremony, says that the council’s $20,000 contribution to the challenge is money well spent.

“The Plantation Business Challenge exposes local students to the business world, and shows them and their families that studying business really is a viable option. The challenge also demonstrates the fantastic ideas being generated in Manukau, and this year is no exception. The business plans presented last Friday give us a taste of the entrepreneurial spirit that is alive and well in Manukau, and I wish the scholarship winners all the best in their future studies. I can’t wait to see what entries we have in 2007.”

Other challenge winners are:

- Three MIT scholarships awarded to Elenoa Lua ($3,500), Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Moneesh Dass ($3,500), Papatoetoe High School, and Brent Matautia ($3,000), Papatoetoe High School.
- One $15,000 AUT scholarship awarded to Eline Puni, Papatoetoe High School.
- Outstanding individual award of $2000 towards further study at either MIT or AUT, presented to Serra Galuvao, The Manurewa High School. This award is for the outstanding individual throughout the Plantation Business Challenge.

During the week-long challenge, participants spend time with both AUT and MIT before working on their business concepts and plans.

ENDS

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