July 1 2005
David Close awards for 2005 made by Christchurch City Council
Students in recreation management, environmental management and arts and law are the winners of this year's David Close
study awards from the Christchurch City Council.
The 2005 award winners are Rachel Boon, a first-year student in recreation management at Lincoln University, Joseph
Harrison, who is studying towards a Batchelor of Environmental Management at Lincoln University and Sarah Berry from
University of Canterbury who is studying towards a double degree in Arts and Law.
The awards are worth up to $6000 a year, to cover the costs of up to four years study for each student at either
Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), Canterbury or Lincoln universities.
They are for study in subjects which are relevant to a career in local government. One of the Council's aims in setting
up the awards was to create a form of cadetship - a launch pad for a career in public service - and where possible,
award recipients are being offered holiday work and a job at the council when their studies are complete.
Rachel Boon says that it is an honour to be recognised. "In the long-term I am looking at using my qualifications in
Local Government. I am interested in getting into the recreation side of Council's work."
David Close retired in 2001 after 23 years as a city councillor. Council set up the awards to give lasting recognition
to his contribution to the city.
The selection criteria of the award includes the relevance of a students chosen course to future employment in Local
Government, the challenges a student faces entering an educational institute and the likelihood they will achieve in
their chosen field.
* The awards are open to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who have lived in the city for at least a year and
have not done full-time tertiary study before. Applications are made through the scholarship offices of the three
tertiary institutions, before 31 January each year.
ENDS