Beca scholarship: young engineers in a post-earthquake world

6 September, 2012

Beca’s University of Canterbury scholarship programme for young engineers rewards excellence in a post-earthquake world

The future of engineering in a post-earthquake world is in good hands with six engineering students from the University of Canterbury recognised by the 2012 Beca Engineering in Society Scholarships.

Beca Regional Manager South Island Craig Price says, “These young engineers will graduate into a world where the impact of earthquakes is very real to the community, a world where New Zealanders now have a deeper recognition of the importance of engineering and its contribution to society.”

The scholarships, a contribution of $15,000 from engineering consultancy Beca, recognise students’ potential to contribute to the future of the engineering profession in New Zealand and this year’s winners join an elite group of past recipients who have greatly appreciated the financial prize.

“These young engineers are inspirational. They have already been successful in their academic results, sporting achievements and community involvement. This year the standard of the candidates is as high as I can recall,” Price says.

“The winners are exemplary students and our engineering leaders of the future. I have no doubt they will make a significant contribution to the community as a whole and play a part in broadening the understanding of engineering and its significance in our society.”

For 22 years Beca has fostered the industry and endorsed excellence among young engineers by rewarding their academic success, cultural and sporting achievements and community involvement.

The Beca 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.

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

The winners in their final professional year of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree receive $3000 each. They are:
• Sarah Poole from Pihama, Taranaki
• Sam Corbett-Davies of Taradale, Napier
• Brittany Challis from Paraparaumu, Kapiti Coast

The winners in their second professional year each receive $2000. They are:
• Daniel Redmond from Rosedale, Invercargill
• Cheng-Yueh Liu from Helensburg, Dunedin
• Yifei Tang from Bayfield, Dunedin

“Reviewing the candidates’ applications was a truly inspiring experience,” says the Dean of Engineering and Forestry Dr Shayne Gooch.

“Not only do the winners have excellent academic achievements, but they are contributing to the community through their involvement in sporting and other cultural activities.

“It is amazing and a credit to these students that they can get top grades and perform in sports and the community. I can’t remember that I was this balanced as an undergraduate student,” he says.

“These students are exceptional performers and will excel in whatever their chosen profession is. I expect they will go on to do well in a technical field of engineering or move on to management or business.”

The Dean acknowledged Beca’s continued generosity in providing financial assistance to students through the scholarship programme.

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.

Beca is contributing to the rebuild of Christchurch, with a large range of projects across the infrastructure and buildings areas. These include commercial, industrial and institutional building structural assessments, project management of the Transitional Christchurch Cathedral, consulting engineering for Christchurch’s waste water treatment plant and as a lead design organisation to the SCIRT (Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team) Alliance.

About Beca

Established in 1918, Beca is New Zealand’s largest employee-owned engineering consultancy, employing more than 2,600 staff in seven countries. Headquartered in Auckland, Beca operates from three market hubs: New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore.

Beca works in six key sectors: buildings, industrial, power, Government, transport and water. Beca’s range of services includes project management, planning, engineering, architecture, surveying, cost estimating, asset management and valuations.

For more information, www.beca.com

ENDS

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