Mayor Recognises Student Commitment

Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace has recognised outstanding Lower Hutt residents who are pursuing their academic dreams in 2016 with the support of the Hutt City Council.

Amongst the recipients are three young people about to study engineering at WelTec. “It’s appropriate that Lower Hutt’s historic and current strength in engineering is reflected in these scholarships. Engineering and technology are a huge area of potential for this city and it’s essential that we have students undertaking study now so that they can contribute to advancing our economy in the future,” said Mayor Wallace.

A function held yesterday at the new Walter Nash Centre in Taita, brought together six scholarship recipients and their families/whanau. One of these was Tukino Kingi who is set to study the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering. Tukino studied with the Wellington Trades Academy in 2016 gaining his NCEA. Over summer, instead of enjoying Wellington’s heat wave, Tukino chose to study on WelTec’s five week maths boot camp so that his maths skills were in top shape for diploma level study.

Tukino’s dedication and drive to do well is evident with his sights firmly set on being an engineer for the New Zealand Navy. Father Te Oneone Kingi says of Tukino’s achievements to date that “they are small compared to what he is capable of. It was a smart decision for Tukino to enrol in the Wellington Trades Academy last year and he has done well. It is up to him now to excel and achieve his goals.”

Carl Williams is from a family of innovators and brought along one of his inventions to the ceremony - a device which holds bottles of beer secure to prevent them falling over while they are being transported. Carl designed the apparatus and his brother machined it for him. Carl is planning to apply his skills in different ways while he undertakes the Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree this year.

Hutt City Council has committed to ten scholarships in 2016 for aspiring engineers. Two recipients received their scholarship at the ceremony today with eight scholarships still available.

Hutt City also supports a Centennial Scholarship for a young aspiring individual who has demonstrated through their work ethic and determination to do well with their studies and who would benefit from financial support to go further. The Hutt City Centennial Scholarship was awarded to Dieudonne Mporananayo who came to New Zealand three years ago from Rwanda. When he arrived in New Zealand Dieudonne could not speak English. Now he is fluent and has done well at school successfully completing NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 at Naenae College. Dieudonne is determined to become a qualified electrician and one day run his own company. With two very young brothers at home he wants to excel academically and be an inspiration for them.

Other scholarship recipients included Peter-Clinton Foaese who is completing the Bachelor of Youth Development at WelTec this year and aims to undertake a Masters programme.

ENDS

© Scoop Media