Beca celebrates 20 years of scholarship programme

Media release

20 August, 2010
 

Beca celebrates 20 years of its University of Canterbury scholarship programme

Six young engineers have this week been recognised for their potential to contribute to the future of the engineering profession in New Zealand, receiving the 2010 Beca Engineering in Society scholarships for University of Canterbury students.

For 20 years engineering consultancy Beca has rewarded young engineers for their academic success, cultural and sporting achievements and community involvement and this year’s recipients join an elite group of past winners who have appreciated the financial award.

“Since 1990 Beca has awarded over $130,000 to more than 70 students as a commitment to developing the profession and encouraging good quality people to become engineers,” Beca Regional Manager South Island Craig Price says.

“One of Beca’s core values is partnerships and long-term relationships and the scholarship programme is a special way to foster our industry and endorse excellence in the College of Engineering at the University of Canterbury,” says Price.

The scholarships take into account academic results, communication skills, leadership qualities, contribution to university and community activities and the candidate’s potential to add value to the engineering profession.

“Beca looks forward to continuing to acknowledge and reward academic excellence and leadership among our engineers of the future,” he says.

The winners in the final professional year of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree receive $3000 each. They are:

·         Andrew Stirrat from Churton Park, Wellington

·         Aric Thorn from Otumoetai, Tauranga

·         Alan Wightman from Otumoetai, Tauranga

The winners in the second professional year each receive $2000. They are:

·        Kirsty Laurence from Remuera, Auckland

·        Maxim Millen from the Marlborough Sounds

·        Georgia Whitla from Avonhead, Christchurch

“The students are academically strong and have also contributed to cultural and sporting activities.  They have also shown an understanding of the role and special responsibility of engineers within society,” says the Dean of Engineering and Forestry, Dr Hamish Cochrane.

“Engineers make decisions which affect all of society and their decisions have to be reached in an ethical and moral manner. It is a humbling experience, and a privilege, to read and review what these young people have already achieved in their lives,” he says.

The scholarship win has an obvious financial benefit for the successful students, but the achievement is notable in other respects. “Beca is a well recognised engineering firm and to be selected and acknowledged by Beca is significant and marks these students as different to their peers. Realistically these awards are selecting people who have the potential to be engineering leaders in 10-15 years time,” Cochrane says.

Environment Commissioner Alex Sutherland, the former Dean of Engineering, was involved in the Beca scholarship programme at the University of Canterbury for 15 years from its inception.

While the financial reward is an instant help to the winners, achieving such an accolade is an impressive addition to a CV, he says. Also, the exercise of assembling an application and being involved in an interview is a learning experience for candidates.

“Beca is a multidisciplinary practice and a leading firm in terms of applications and ways of doing things, so they are interested in looking at all the streams of engineering and rewarding signs of flair, innovation and a desire to be in the forefront of the industry,” Sutherland says.

“It is always a very competitive process.”

The importance of the scholarships to the College of Engineering cannot be understated, Cochrane says.  This view is supported by the College of Engineering Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Jan Evans-Freeman, who is delighted that excellent students benefit in this way from the enduring relationship with Beca.

“The awards recognise high calibre students in any of our eight different engineering specialisations. Beca’s support is important in the continuing efforts to promote engineering as a challenging, exciting, and important career,” Cochrane says.

As well as the Engineering in Society scholarship programme at the University of Canterbury, Beca bestows a variety of prizes each year at the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato and Auckland University of Technology.

Ends

© Scoop Media