Media release
20 August, 2010
Beca celebrates 20 years of its University of Canterbury scholarship programme
Six young engineers have this week been recognised for their potential to contribute to the future of the engineering
profession in New Zealand, receiving the 2010 Beca Engineering in Society scholarships for University of Canterbury
students.
For 20 years engineering consultancy Beca has rewarded young engineers for their academic success, cultural and sporting
achievements and community involvement and this year’s recipients join an elite group of past winners who have
appreciated the financial award.
“Since 1990 Beca has awarded over $130,000 to more than 70 students as a commitment to developing the profession and
encouraging good quality people to become engineers,” Beca Regional Manager South Island Craig Price says.
“One of Beca’s core values is partnerships and long-term relationships and the scholarship programme is a special way to
foster our industry and endorse excellence in the College of Engineering at the University of Canterbury,” says Price.
The scholarships take into account academic results, communication skills, leadership qualities, contribution to
university and community activities and the candidate’s potential to add value to the engineering profession.
“Beca looks forward to continuing to acknowledge and reward academic excellence and leadership among our engineers of
the future,” he says.
The winners in the final professional year of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree receive $3000 each. They are:
· Andrew Stirrat from Churton Park, Wellington
· Aric Thorn from Otumoetai, Tauranga
· Alan Wightman from Otumoetai, Tauranga
The winners in the second professional year each receive $2000. They are:
· Kirsty Laurence from Remuera, Auckland
· Maxim Millen from the Marlborough Sounds
· Georgia Whitla from Avonhead, Christchurch
“The students are academically strong and have also contributed to cultural and sporting activities. They have also
shown an understanding of the role and special responsibility of engineers within society,” says the Dean of Engineering
and Forestry, Dr Hamish Cochrane.
“Engineers make decisions which affect all of society and their decisions have to be reached in an ethical and moral
manner. It is a humbling experience, and a privilege, to read and review what these young people have already achieved
in their lives,” he says.
The scholarship win has an obvious financial benefit for the successful students, but the achievement is notable in
other respects. “Beca is a well recognised engineering firm and to be selected and acknowledged by Beca is significant
and marks these students as different to their peers. Realistically these awards are selecting people who have the
potential to be engineering leaders in 10-15 years time,” Cochrane says.
Environment Commissioner Alex Sutherland, the former Dean of Engineering, was involved in the Beca scholarship programme
at the University of Canterbury for 15 years from its inception.
While the financial reward is an instant help to the winners, achieving such an accolade is an impressive addition to a
CV, he says. Also, the exercise of assembling an application and being involved in an interview is a learning experience
for candidates.
“Beca is a multidisciplinary practice and a leading firm in terms of applications and ways of doing things, so they are
interested in looking at all the streams of engineering and rewarding signs of flair, innovation and a desire to be in
the forefront of the industry,” Sutherland says.
“It is always a very competitive process.”
The importance of the scholarships to the College of Engineering cannot be understated, Cochrane says. This view is
supported by the College of Engineering Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Jan Evans-Freeman, who is delighted that excellent
students benefit in this way from the enduring relationship with Beca.
“The awards recognise high calibre students in any of our eight different engineering specialisations. Beca’s support is
important in the continuing efforts to promote engineering as a challenging, exciting, and important career,” Cochrane
says.
As well as the Engineering in Society scholarship programme at the University of Canterbury, Beca bestows a variety of
prizes each year at the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato and Auckland University of Technology.
Ends