UCOL Nursing students claim new horizons
Whanganui UCOL Nursing student Deshannon Matthews credits her boys as the reason she is pursuing a career in Nursing.
“They are my life, and I will do all I can to give them the life they deserve,” she says.
Deshannon was speaking at a ceremony in Palmerston North on Friday where she received a Graduate Women Manawatu
Charitable Trust Second Chance Award from the New Horizons for Women Trust at a ceremony at UCOL.
“This award is such a blessing,” says Deshannon. “As a single mum, study can be very draining financially with household
bills, childcare and school fees.”
Deshannon is in the last year of her Bachelor of Nursing. “Since starting this journey I have discovered how much it can
change you. It has made me a much stronger person, more disciplined and driven to achieve whatever I set my mind to.”
UCOL Wairarapa student Emma Warrington received the NZ Federation of Graduate Wellington Branch Second Chance Award at
the Wellington ceremony earlier last week. Emma is a second year Bachelor of Nursing student at UCOL’s Masterton campus.
The New Horizons for Women Trust organizes the awards each year to support education, innovation and research that
benefits women.
The awards take the form of a $3000 grant that the recipients can spend to aid their studies.
The Second Chance awards are for women over the age of 27 years returning to education or training. The selection
process considers the level of need, personal qualities and the likelihood of success.
UCOL Deputy Chief Executive Academic Bonnie Dewart says ”UCOL has provided the venue and supported the process of these
awards for the past two years. We acknowledge the considerable work that the New Horizons for Women Trust, Zonta and the
Graduate Women Manawatu Charitable Trust put into delivering scholarships around New Zealand.”
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