Eastland Group announces tertiary engineering scholarships

Eastland Group announces tertiary engineering scholarships for 2016

Eastland Group has awarded two $5000 tertiary engineering scholarships for the 2016 study year, continuing a tradition that sees the company support local students working in fields specific to its infrastructure businesses.

Kelsey Coronno has just started her electrical engineering studies at Auckland University. In 2012, while at Lytton High School, she joined other regional winners of the Programming Challenge for Girls for a 3-day camp covering a range of topics in computer science, software engineering, network engineering, and computer systems engineering. The Wellington 2012 Programming Camp for Girls, was sponsored by Google and the PC4G organisers. In 2015, she also attended the OUASSA camp (Otago University Advanced School Sciences Academy).

“I loved it and realised that I’m passionate about science and technology.”

Kelsey says Eastland Group’s scholarship will allow her to travel home to Gisborne in the holidays to visit my family. “It will also mean a less significant student loan, and subsequently less stress in my life, which would help me to concentrate more fully on my studies.”

Sam Godwin has been a recipient of the Eastland Group scholarship three years in a row. A committed rugby player, he put his studies on hold last year to focus on the sport. While his bid to secure a place in the NZ under 20 team was ultimately unsuccessful, he captained both the Division 1 and Canterbury Colts U21 rugby side, while also working at engineering firm Davie Lovell-Smith.

“These roles allowed my leadership skills to advance greatly,” he says.

Now back in fulltime study for his final year studying for a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) specialising in Civil Engineering at Canterbury University, Sam says his focus is on working with a peer and an academic on a research project.

“I’m excited to be doing research on ground motion characteristics in simplified liquefaction triggering calculations. In part, the project involves research on amplitude of the ground motion of the recent Christchurch earthquakes. Having the ability to closely analyse the earthquakes that changed the city, reinforces why I chose Canterbury University.”

Eastland Group’s annual tertiary engineering scholarship offers $5,000 to students studying engineering, and comes with the possibility of paid holiday work with the company.

Group chief executive Matt Todd said the aim was to select students studying subjects that complement Eastland Group’s business and operations. “Therefore, applicants must be studying civil, mechanical or electrical engineering.”

Scholarship applicants provide a 1000 word essay and a cv, and are also reviewed by Eastland Group in terms of academic achievement, character and potential leadership, potential to contribute to New Zealand’s engineering industry.

Last year’s recipients were Sam Godwin and Briar Thomas.

ENDS

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