Top awards mean a step closer to helping re-build Christchurch for WelTec Student

A Wainuiomata student will receive two prizes totalling $5000 for excellence in study - another step forward in his goal of helping re-build Christchurch after the devastating earthquakes.

Sean Ryan, 18, an ex-Wainuiomata High School student, will receive a Hutt City Council Scholarship on Thursday to add to his Wellington Trades Academy Scholarship. Mr Ryan received his awards for excellence in study during his last year with Wellington Trades Academy at the Wellington Institute of Technology.

Both awards will be used to study for the Certificate in Carpentry Level 3 at WelTec in 2013 which Mr Ryan hopes will lead to him finding work in Christchurch.

“I really want to help people, and this is a good way,” explains Mr Ryan. “There should also be plenty of work for qualified people down there.”

Mr Ryan says that helping his grandfather build a deck first inspired his interest in construction. From there it was an easy decision to study at WelTec through the Wellington Trades Academy while still enrolled at secondary school.
“I had to do a lot of things that I just wasn’t interested in at secondary school,” says Mr Ryan. “I found it really hands-on at WelTec and tutors were always there to help me if I got stuck. They encourage me to do what I think I can’t.”

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says Sean demonstrated the motivation and commitment to achieve his goals and that was a key factor in his success.
“Hutt City’s scholarship is about providing a helping hand to young people in need to achieve their ambitions,” he says.

WelTec runs a number of programmes in construction both in the Hutt Valley and at Otaki, which still have places available this year.

ENDS

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