2009 Scholarships...
 

For 2009 Scholarships, contact your school Careers Advisor for further details.

Academic & Trade Scholarships

 Lindy Cumming, Dean of Year 13 at Rutherford College, is hugely thankful to The Trusts Elected Members for the Academic and Trade Scholarships they provide.

“These absolutely make a difference for our pupils”, she said.“No way could they go on to University without these scholarships.”

This year, The Trusts Elected Members through TTCF will give out around 119 scholarships, valued at around $318,000.00.  They go to 11 high schools in the Waitakere and Portage areas.They’re designed to be awarded by the school itself to senior pupils, according to the school’s own criteria for selection of recipients.Each scholarship is to allow the pupil to continue study – either at a tertiary level or in a trade.Always they’re an acknowledgement of effort, dedication and personal achievement.Sometimes, academic prowess and capability is the rationale.For others, the scholarships are designed to match a young person’s determination and focus, or as a reward for improvement, allowing them to move to the next level in their lives.

There is no doubt that The Trusts’ scholarships are a much-needed contribution to the community.

“This year we distributed seven academic and three trade scholarships. The scholarship winners and their families were ecstatic.They really made an enormous difference to these kids;they’re so deserving,”said Lindy.“If we didn’t have The Trusts, our school simply couldn’t award these scholarships.They help West Auckland kids to shine.”

Business Manager for Waitakere College agrees.“The value for the college of being able to access this money is immeasurable,”says Jeannie McLean.“We could not reward hard-working students without this help.” 

Spirit of New Zealand Scholarships

Letting Spirit Move Kids

Does the Spirit of New Zealand train young people in sailing? Or does it help them set sail on a sound course for the future? Most definitely the latter, while achieving the first.

And Portage and Waitakere Trusts help these young people on this, their first major voyage in life.

Each year, the Spirit of Adventure Trust ensures nearly 1200 young people, aged 15 to 19, experience the challenge and excitement of living on the sea for ten days. During the voyage, they must learn to sail the tall ship Spirit of New Zealand, gifted via the Spirit Trust to New Zealand by Lou Fisher.

The boat and voyage are great New Zealand levellers. Everyone must muck in. And the chosen participants are picked mainly by schools for the benefits they are expected to derive.

Each year, Portage and Waitakere Trust Elected Members provides for around 80 scholarships to schools in their regions (at an investment of around $89,000) to choose pupils to experience the Spirit. The effect can be life changing.

“The voyage changed my life in terms of the confidence and leadership skills I gained. I was voted to captain the ship on the final day and sailed the ship into Auckland from Waiheke Island. It was an amazing experience that I shall never forget. Every trainee comes out a slightly different person. I believe more (if not all) New Zealanders should be able to have the same experience I did.” O. Browne, Avondale College Pupil and Portage Scholarship winner 2005

“I was given the opportunity to join the Spirit of New Zealand for a ten day sailing trip around the Marlborough Sounds. Since I returned my parents noticed a change in my character. They think I am able to relate to and work with people in a better way and that I also had a better attitude regarding work.” I. Kirkpatrick, Kelston Boys High School Pupil, and Portage Scholarship winner 2005.

John Lister, CEO of the Spirit of Adventure Trust says:
“Youth development is our core business. If it wasn’t for Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts and similar trusts, our job would be much, much harder. We’d be charging $1500 a head for the voyage, which is the true cost for each participant, and we’d be elitist. That’s not what we’re set up to do.”