Record number of student scholarships awarded

2017 awardsA record number of students were awarded Whitireia Foundation scholarships for study in 2017. For this, we are grateful to our amazing sponsors, a good number who have been supporting Whitireia students for a decade or more. Take a look at our sponsors here. The families, trusts and businesses that are our sponsors, have all made a meaningful commitment to their community by supporting a student. A number of sponsors also provide mentoring and work placement opportunities.

Our students tell us they see this investment in them and their future as hugely significant. We know from their feedback that a scholarship is worth so much more than the money.  Students respond to the faith shown in them by their sponsors and they commit themselves to doing their absolute best. We hear from our sponsors that they are motivated by seeing their student reach their potential, and they will support them in many ways to do that – from commissioning artworks, as in the case of one of our carving students, to regularly opening their business up to students to experience the workplace for themselves.  We look forward to tracking the future achievements of students participating in mentorship and work experience, and to grow this part of our scholarship programme, based on the evidence we gather.

The Foundation extends grateful thanks to all our sponsors and to the students who have joined the Whitireia Foundation family, through being awarded scholarships this year. See photos from the Ceremony on Whitireia’s Facebook page here.

Reaching 50 scholarships for 2017 is a milestone for us. We also had a record number of applicants. We would love to be able to recognise more students, so fewer miss out. Our scholarships have grown from $70,000 awarded in 2011 to $120,000 in 2017. Our Trustees are committed to fostering enduring partnerships with our sponsors that will result in the continued growth of the scholarship fund, and most of all, in the attainment of student – and community – success.

If you are thinking about making a difference by sponsoring a student, please get in touch. You can use the comments section below to make an inquiry – your details will be kept confidential.

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Awards Ceremony 22 March 2017 – Foundation Chair, Kelvin Irvine, congratulates students, welcoming them to the Whitireia Foundation family
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Porirua Mayor, Mike Tana, was along to present a scholarship to Samrawit Abraham (B Nursing) on behalf of the Council. Carla Uncles (B Teaching Early Childhood) is to the left. On the right are Jasmine Haley (B Social Work) and Foundation Trustee Robyn Moore 
Tim Sheppard and Erebuka Bwauro Perf Arts
Trust Porirua sponsor ten scholarships. Here is Trust Chair, Tim Sheppard, presenting Performing Arts student, Erebuka Bwauro, with her award.