August 29, 2000
Scholarship awarded for excellence in business studies
Victoria University student, Sarah Fussell-Quarmby, has received the third annual Synergy postgraduate scholarship for
excellence in business studies. A policy analyst with the New Zealand Immigration Service, Sarah (30) is studying for a
Master of Public Policy degree. She was awarded the $3000 scholarship because of her high level of academic achievement
in the MPP programme, her analytical and communication skills and her ability to work effectively as an individual and
in groups, course director, Professor Claudia Scott, said. "I'm thrilled," Sarah said. "I've put a lot of work into the
programme and it's great to see business actively encouraging and rewarding that effort. It's an investment in the
future." Synergy chief executive, David Irving, says the scholarship recognises the importance of graduates continuing
to strive for excellence through innovation, application and delivery, both in study and business. "It's about helping
mature students improve their theoretical business skills at a postgraduate level," Mr Irving said. "The selection
committee looks at a candidate's academic achievements and the extent to which they show they are innovative,
professional and committed." The scholarship is open to all postgraduates in Business Studies and is administered by the
Victoria University of Wellington Foundation, a registered charitable trust governed by an independent board of
trustees. The Foundation facilitates private financial support for University projects and student scholarships which
could not be funded otherwise. A management consulting and information technology services company, Synergy has recently
expanded across the Tasman. A partner to the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation, Synergy was the private sector
winner of the 1998 Business Development Quality Award and received the New Zealand Quality Foundation 1999 Progress
Award. The company also won the Professional Gold category in the Wellington Region Gold Awards held in June 2000 and
was highly-commended in the Dominion Wellington Region Gold award for business enterprise and excellence.
Issued on behalf of Synergy International Limited by Sigma Group (Wellington) Limited (Daniel Paul), Tel. (04) 4728-961.
For further information contact Heather Lucas, Tel. (04) 499-3000