Scholarship for Martial Arts enthusiast

Scholarship for Martial Arts enthusiast

Seven UCOL students will be awarded scholarships donated by the Manawatu community at a ceremony at the Palmerston North campus today.

The students will receive scholarships towards their tuition costs, generously donated by Manawatu individuals and organisations.

Martial Arts enthusiast Aaron Davey is on the three year Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science programme. He is described as a natural leader whose peers actively seek him out for assistance. He is involved with UCOL’s Maori mentoring programme and is a regular participant in UCOL’s Mixed Martial Arts initiative (a programme that Links Mixed Martial Arts training to their studies such as biomechanics, athletic training, physical conditioning and nutrition). Aaron is a single father and commutes from Levin to UCOL. He plans to do a postgraduate qualification next year.

Lecturer and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu Blue Belt Vaughan Antonio says Aaron is an exceptional student whose martial arts participation has benefitted his study. “Our Mixed Martial Arts initiative has proved to be really popular with Sport and Exercise Science students and a powerful aid to their study, as a disciplined sport. To quote the students: ‘In class we learn how the body is put together. We get on the mat and pull it apart.’”

He receives the Andrew Cliff Award established in memory of a former senior lecturer with the Manawatu Polytechnic.

Three Nursing students receive scholarships from Graduate Women Manawatu which operates academic dress hire in the Manawatu.

Aroha Hiko is in the third year of her Bachelor of Nursing degree. She transferred from Tairawhiti Polytechnic in Gisborne (where UCOL previously delivered the Nursing degree, at the beginning of this year. She is described as having a mature, dedicated approach to learning. She has also received impressive feedback from her clinical placements where she was described as an asset to the clinical area. On completing her degree Aroha intends to return to the Army as a Nurse Officer in the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps.

Jenna Maney is in her third year of the Bachelor of Nursing. She is hard-working and motivated, always practices at a high standard, has excellent time-management skills, and has a well-developed ability to think critically. Jenna aims to complete a New Graduate Programme next year to gain a greater knowledge base and experience in the different fields of nursing.

Emilie Kitchin is also in her third year of the Nursing degree. During her study, Emilie has had to overcome several challenges; however she has not let these affect her study. She manages to balance her time between study, part-time work and caring for her three daughters. She is recognised by her lecturers as highly motivated, hard-working and conscientious and as sure to achieve in whichever area of nursing she chooses to specialise in.

Nicole Savage receives the Fletcher Challenge trust Award. She is in the third year of the Medical Imaging Technology degree. She is an enthusiastic and diligent student who works very hard within the classroom setting as well on placement and balances her study with her sporting commitments. At the end of 2011 Nicole plans on working in general radiology to gain experience before deciding on an area to specialise in.

Aimee Thompson and Helen Hughes receive Palmerston North City Council Jaycee Scholarships. Aimee is in the second year of the Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging degree. Her academic achievements have been of a consistently very high standard, including being named the Top Overall BAVI Student in Year 1. She also won two external awards for her portfolio and photography. Aimee is a Youth Leader, leads a church band and leads the Children’s Area of her church. Her goal is to own her own business.

Helen is in her first year of the MIT degree. She has proven herself as an all-round achiever, actively involved in the community. Since beginning her degree Helen has already undertaken a number of extracurricular activities including being chosen as a representative for the Central Districts Under21 Hockey Team and has been a judge at the NZ Young Farmers Ag-Kids regional competition. After completing her degree, Helen plans to further specialise and practice as a sonographer.

The Semester One scholarships, including UCOL scholarships, will be presented on Thursday 2 June at 12.15 pm in the UCOL Learning Hub, King Street.

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