Students share $90,000 in scholarships

Students share $90,000 in scholarships

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology students will this year benefit from $90,000 worth of scholarships offered through NMIT.

NMIT scholarship winners for 2012 were announced at a ceremony in Nelson on Friday 27 April, with the remainder being acknowledged tomorrow, Tuesday, 1 May at 10am at NMIT’s Marlborough Campus. The total 67 recipients will share $90,000 worth of scholarships.

Nelson commerce student Lili Carter and carpentry student Keani Edwards were among those acknowledged in the Nelson ceremony.

Lili, 21, is in the second year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a recipient of the Arrow International Applied Business Scholarship. As part of the scholarship Lili receives $6000 towards her student loan, spread over three years of study.

“Winning this award is such a motivator for me to do well in my studies, I just feel so privileged that Arrow International selected me for this scholarship,” Lili says.

The former Nelson College for Girls’ student spent two years working at a summer camp in the United States before deciding in 2011 to “settle down and do something with my life”.

At the beginning of 2011 she enrolled in NMIT’s Bachelor of Commerce because it would give her a good foundation for future work. An average student at school, Lili thrived in the programme’s challenging and stimulating environment. Last year she topped the class in the quantitative analysis paper. The most surprising thing she has found about the programme is - she actually enjoys it.

“It’s really interesting, I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I am,” Lili says. “I find myself trying a lot harder than I did at school and I really want to do well because I know the more I learn and get out of my classes, the more chance I’ll have of getting a good job in the future – it’s a great motivator.”

Lili plans on doing further study when she finishes her degree at the end of next year and after that, is looking forward to joining the workforce. “I feel like I’m moving forward and getting somewhere, finally.”

Keani, who is studying the one-year Certificate in Carpentry (Pre-Trades), received the NMIT Pre-Trades Scholarship and $900 towards his programme fees. Keani, 18, chose carpentry because it is a versatile and useful career.

“I wanted a qualification I could fall back on. I’d like to travel round the world one day so having carpentry skills will come in pretty handy.” Keani has plans to move to Auckland and do an apprenticeship when he graduates at the end of the year.
“I’m really looking forward to working in the building industry and having the satisfaction of knowing I’ve helped build a home for someone - that’ll be great.”

NMIT Chief Executive Tony Gray says the scholarships are funded by sponsorship from local industry and charitable groups as well as NMIT.

“The benefit of these scholarships goes far beyond their monetary value,” Mr Gray says. “They help encourage and motivate people to be educated, trained and gain valuable skills in the region where they live. These scholarships can also have positive flow on effects for the businesses, industries and communities of the Top of the South who benefit socially and economically from the students’ skills and experience.”

The scholarships are individually valued from $400 upwards. Sponsors include: Nelson Pine Industries, Woollaston Estates Ltd, Marlborough Zonta, Nelson Federation of Graduate Women Trust, Wine Marlborough NZ, Blenheim Lions Club, Ngati Koata Trust, Nelson Marlborough Freemasons Charity, Arrow International and the Pene Ruruku Whanau.

The scholarships are in programme areas as varied as: Aviation, Information Technology, Arts and Media, Cookery, Tourism, Commerce, Hairdressing and Nursing.

Each scholarship is distinct with its own criteria. Some are awarded based on academic achievement while others are for financial or cultural reasons.

In addition to financial assistance, NMIT also provides scholarships to the value of $33,000 to Year 13 school leavers throughout the region by providing ‘Half a Degree for Free’ to students from local secondary schools who go on to study fulltime on selected NMIT degree programmes.

ENDS

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