Trio win inaugural tourism academic scholarships

Trio win inaugural tourism academic scholarships

Three young Kiwi students planning a career in tourism each got a $2500 financial boost today as the recipients of the inaugural Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust (TINZT) Academic Scholarships.

The scholarships were presented at today’s TIA National Tourism Summit in Wellington to Aleesha Crouch, St Peter’s College, Cambridge; Samantha McGhie, Paraparaumu College, Kapiti; and Georgia McLean, Diocesan School For Girls, Auckland.

Launched this year, the scholarships are open to young New Zealanders who have completed NCEA Level 2 and are due to start tourism related tertiary study. The money will go towards their first year tuition fees, says TINZT Chairman Grant Lilly.

“People and skills is one of the biggest issues facing New Zealand’s $30 billion tourism industry – attracting the right people in the right places with the right skills to support the industry’s rapid growth.

“These academic scholarships are one way we can promote tourism as a fantastic career and attract smart young Kiwis with great skills and a great attitude into our industry.”

Mr Lilly says the scholarships attracted more than 20 applications, which is an excellent result for their first year. Shortlisted candidates were interviewed by a Scholarship Panel and three winners selected.

“They are worthy recipients, ambitious young women who will be a great asset to our tourism industry when they graduate from their chosen tertiary study programmes.”

About the winners

• Aleesha Crouch
Aleesha is a Year 13 student at St Peter’s School in Cambridge. Her passion is to be involved in the promotion of tourism as one of New Zealand’s most important industries. She has been accepted into the 2016 International Diploma Tourism Course at the Waikato Institute of Technology.
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• Samantha McGhie
Samantha is a Year 13 at Paraparaumu College in Kapiti. She originally wanted to run a hotel, but now her dream job is to mix tourism development with marketing. Samantha has been accepted into a Bachelor of Management Studies at Waikato University where she will major in tourism development.
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• Georgia McLean
Georgia is a Year 13 student at Diocesan School For Girls in Auckland. Georgia aspires to achieve a leadership role in an airline or adventure tourism operation. She is planning to complete a Bachelor of Tourism Management at Victoria University.
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