UCOL salutes its Top Scholars

Media Release

Monday 2 December 2013

UCOL salutes its Top Scholars

UCOL Bachelor of Nursing student Sherly Maukau has cleaned up the Second Semester student scholarships two years in a row.

At a ceremony at UCOL last week, Sherly not only won the Soroptimist Scholarship, she claimed the Colleen MacPherson award for a second time. Last November Sherly won the Colleen MacPherson in addition to an Award for Effort and Achievement.

The Colleen McPherson Scholarship gives financial help to a student who has a disability or a dependent with a disability. “Sherly is dedicated to her family and continuously strives to be a positive role model for them,” the panel said. “She also has the responsibility of caring for her older brother, Rawiri, who is intellectually disabled. Sherly says that despite his mental capabilities, he is proud of her determination to become a nurse.”

As well as her brother, Sherly has three children, aged from eight to 16 years.

The Soroptimist Scholarship acknowledges Sherly’s commitment to her goal of becoming a qualified nurse.

“I feel there are many applicants who are just as worthy of this award,” she says. “I am very humbled to receive it.”

Seven other students received recognition at the awards ceremony.

High Achievers Awards went to Diploma in Furniture Design and Making student Leilani Tunnage, Bachelor of Nursing student Hannah Reynolds, Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging student Emily Hudson, and Professional Cookery student Lauren Birch.

Leilani has a diverse range of skills having been in the Royal New Zealand Air Force for five years where she won Top Recruit while doing the RNZAF recruit course. After leaving the defence force Leilani went on to qualify as a Commercial helicopter pilot in Nelson. After shifting to Palmerston North with her husband she enrolled at UCOL and soon discovered her passion for artistic design and working with wood.

Hannah Reynolds is presently completing her Bachelor of Nursing. She believes in working hard to meet her full potential personally, professionally & academically. She has been Student Representative for three years running and for the past two years was nominated by UCOL Nursing staff to become the Faculty of Health representative on the UCOL Student Council. She is also the ‘face’ of UCOL Nursing in their online marketing campaign.

Emily Hudson has recently completed the Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging degree majoring in Design. Emily was involved in a collaborative Design Thinking Internship with Te Manawa Museum to co-create a community outdoor play space. She is working with the UCOL strategy team on a project, and also did voluntary research work with the Palmerston North Airport. Emily feels the experience working on these projects has had a major contribution to her personal growth.

Lauren Birch is currently enrolled in the Certificate in Professional Cookery Level 4 having completed the Certificate in Baking and Pastry Level 3 passing with Merit and the Certificate in Professional Cookery Level 3 also passing with Merit.

She competed at the Wellington Culinary Fare in the Open Beef – Main Course section against professional chefs placing first and received a gold medal. Lauren then travelled to Auckland to compete in the UCOL team in two sections, Wine & Food Match Open where she came first and Cervena Venison Open where she was placed second. Lauren plans on continuing to work in the food and hospitality industry to gain a greater depth of experience, ultimately dreaming of owning her own restaurant one day but would love to get a fulltime role as a chef in the meantime.

Damian Ranginui is a first year Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science student having recently completed the Certificate in Exercise & Sport and received the Ralph Flavell Scholarship. He is an integral part of UCOL’s Whanau room and belongs to the Awhikiri group of students.

Damian would like to work in Maori Health educating Maori on proper nutritional habits and exercise. He also hopes to develop his Te Reo Maori so that he can speak and teach in Maori and English.

Whanganui UCOL student Shane Brown who is currently completing a National Certificate in Mental Health (Support Work), was awarded an Effort & Achievement Scholarship

Shane is the student representative for his class and the Chairman/Secretary of Narcotics Anonymous fellowship programme in Whanganui and is involved on a seasonal basis as a Rural Fire Fighter. He has been appointed as an Alcohol and Other Drug services Support Worker the Wanganui District Health Board and hopes to go on and complete a Diploma in Mental Health.

Announcing the Second Semester awards, UCOL’s Deputy Chief Executive Academic Bonnie Dewart congratulated the recipients and said it was especially pleasing to receive such a large number of applications, all of a high standard.

Bonnie also acknowledged the generosity of organisations, stakeholders and families that enabled UCOL to regularly offer scholarships to deserving students. “A scholarship can make a significant difference in a students’ life.”

ENDS

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