Established for students from low decile schools following the divestment of Victoria University of Wellington’s Karori campus, the scholarship recipients are chosen by the Principal of their secondary school and will each receive $7000 a year for three years towards the cost of completing an undergraduate degree at Victoria.
Bishop Viard Principal Rose Sawaya says it wasn’t only Anna’s hard work and excellent marks that influenced her decision to choose Anna for the scholarship. “Anna is modest, highly motivated and her self-management skills are excellent,” says Principal Sawaya.
As one of eight children, Anna is particularly grateful to be able to take some of the burden away from her family: “I’ll be living at home, but receiving the scholarship definitely takes the pressure off,” says Anna.
The top academic student in her year, Anna has completed Legal Studies through Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (The Correspondence School) in addition to her NCEA course work, to help secure her place at Victoria’s Law School in 2018.
Mrs Sawaya says Anna is one of Bishop Viard’s Catholic Character Leaders and has a calm, gentle approach to her fellow students. She is strong in her faith and very caring towards others—she thoroughly deserves this opportunity,” she says.
Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford says the University is delighted to be able to support students from disadvantaged communities to access the benefits of tertiary study.
“Victoria is committed to helping students who may not otherwise be able to access tertiary study to realise their potential and create a positive future for themselves and their communities.
“Investing earnings from the divestment of the Karori campus into this area aligns with our primary purpose of providing high quality, research-led, tertiary education on behalf of the wider community.”