Lauren's fast track to success

Lauren Harrell's work ethic and love of cars is proving to be a winning formula. Picture / Top Energy

Former Kerikeri High School student Lauren Harrell is on a fast track to success, with an extra boost from this year's Top Energy engineering scholarship.

The standout all-rounder says she is motivated by problem-solving, which she has applied to several academic, creative and recreational disciplines. And this year she has added a design degree to her mechanical engineering studies.

Bringing together the functional and creative sides of engineering was a natural decision for a career in the automotive industry, where car aesthetics and usability are as important as mechanical function.

Now entering her third year at the University of Auckland, Lauren will be one of few students to graduate with a conjoined engineering and design degree.

With a love of cars, Lauren is a member of the University of Auckland's Formula SAE team, helping to design and construct a small formula-style race car each year to compete in a three-day international student engineering competition. Formula SAE-A gave her the opportunity to develop skills in design, management, manufacturing, communication, research and business operations in a real-world environment, she said. Sustainability was a key issue, and she continually looked at ways to improve things.

She believes the automotive sector will become more sustainable as innovations built into high-performance cars move into mass market design.

Lauren has shown her desire to excel from an early age, from winning an award at the Top Energy Regional Science Fair in Year 8 to achieving the top grade in the cohort for Introduction to Mechatronics in 2019.

Beyond her academic excellence, she has also demonstrated strong leadership qualities and a commitment to supporting fellow students to reach their potential in engineering and the sciences. She is keen to encourage female success, to introduce more diversity and innovation into the field.

Winning Top Energy's engineering scholarship would allow her to focus on her studies and building her passion for cars into a career.

Top Energy chief executive Russell Shaw said Lauren's scholarship application had been impressive, while her conversations with the judges had shown an ease and composure that belied her age.

The judges had commented that she decisively knew what she wanted, where she was going, and was determined to get there.

Mr Shaw said he had been impressed by the student talent pool in the Far North, and encouraged others to apply for the next selection round in August.

"The scholarship can open opportunities that may not have been previously available," he said.

The scholarship, worth $8000 per year of study for a maximum of four years, was aimed at assisting Far North students who wished to pursue an engineering (honours) degree, and had already achieved an excellent academic record. It was part of a suite of sponsorship initiatives offered the lines company for the benefit of the Far North community, which included the Electricity rescue helicopter and the Top Energy Business Development Fund, which offered grants to existing or new businesses that had the potential to grow the Far North economy.

■ For more information on the engineering scholarship go to www.topenergy.co.nz/sponsorship