Whanganui students pick up scholarships

Nursing student and scholarship winner Alex Kumeroa with children Romana 17 (left), John-Christopher 12 and Penelope-Lee 8.

Whanganui UCOL bachelor of nursing student Alex Kumeroa's children were proud to see their mother presented with a scholarship award in Palmerston North last week.

Ms Kumeroa was "born and bred" in Whanganui of Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi iwi, and her hapu are Ngā Paerangi, Ngāti Hinearo and Ngāti Tuera.

"I have been living in Australia for a long time and many of my whanau are still over there.
Coming back to study in her hometown of Whanganui has been wonderful for her and her children she says.

"It is good for my children to experience living in this place that is their turangawaewae."

Ms Kumeroa was awarded a Ralph Flavell scholarship which will go towards her fees for next year.

Resilience, persistence to succeed in her studies, and aspiration to work in a hospital and help people were cited as reasons for her selection.

UCOL chief executive Leeza Boyce said award recipients were chosen for their all-round capabilities.

"As well as awarding scholarships based on academic prowess, we look at students' achievements outside the classroom and how they have tackled the obstacles that life has thrown at them."

Students from across UCOL's regions were recognised for success inside and outside the classroom at the ceremony.

In addition to the awards for current students, secondary school students were awarded Excellence scholarships worth $9,000 each to go towards study in a UCOL degree programme in 2017.

Whanganui High School's Hannah Neilson recieved an award to study for a Bachelor of Nursing, Cullinane College student Bradley Kirkland received an award to study for the Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology and Rebekah Gribbon of Rangitikei College, for study in the Bachelor of Exercise Sports Science.

Other students took home $2,000 Meritorious scholarships for study in UCOL Level 3 and above programmes next year.

The awardees are: Trudie Mulligan of Rangitikei College, Tom Clark of Whanganui High School, Teresa Sumich and Emily Playford of Taihape Area School, Ainslee Pikimaui of Cullinane College, Roland Mead and Berllena Herewini of Whanganui City College.

"These scholarships, which were awarded for achievement inside and outside the classroom, support the retention of talented students in the region and are an investment from UCOL in each individual and their potential," said UCOL Executive Director Business Development Arthur Chin.