Bay High Performance Sports Scholars celebrated

Bay High Performance Sports Scholars celebrated

How you approach and deal with road blocks in life can either make or break your sports career former Silver Ferns netballer, Jodi Tod-Elliott, told recipients of the High Performance Sports Scholarship at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic last night.

Tod-Elliott was the guest speaker at the awards ceremony where this years scholarships were awarded to Abby Goldie (track sprinter), Alex Hawthorne (kayak), Amy Robinson (hockey), Beniece Douch (volleyball), Lauren Clarke (squash), Max Schroder (volleyball), Nik Ansorge (cycling), and Thomas MacRury (cricket). Also presented at the ceremony was the winner of the Howie Hinton Memorial Scholarship, Leah Marumaru-Flynn.

“Dealing with non-selection, public backlash and poor performance are just a few challenges you can come across in sport,” said Tod-Elliott. “You can choose to deal with these challenges in a positive or negative way.”

“I remember how devastated I was with my first non-selection when I missed out on the year 7/8 rep team. It is clear in my memory - I wanted to be there so much,” she said. However, rather than letting her disappointment sway her from her chosen sport, Tod-Elliott allowed it to fuel her determination and went on to represent New Zealand while others who were selected for the team no longer play.

The High Performance Sports Scholarships are open to all students studying any full-time programme at the Polytechnic who are competing at a national or international level in their sporting code. More than 30 applicants applied for the scholarships this year.

All scholarship winners receive their year’s tertiary fees paid, access to the Polytechnic’s sport and fitness centre, including performance sport testing, as well as education, sporting and lifestyle support services provided by a High Performance Manager. The Howie Hinton scholarship is presented to a student who emulates the qualities shown by the late Howie Hinton, a dedicated and inspirational tutor of sport and recreation programmes at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

Mike Dudson, High Performance Sports manager, said there had been an unprecedented number of top applicants this year. “The students awarded scholarships should feel really proud – it’s a testament to their dedication and skill and the Polytechnic is privileged to be part of the students’ journey to success,” he said.

Previous winners of the scholarship include NZ Beach Volleyball champion Sam O’Dea, World Champion Surf LifeSaver Natalie Peat and New Zealand’s fastest man - Joseph Millar.

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