Mount Aspiring College Te Kura o Tititea (MAC) principal Nicola Jacobsen says she is proud of the MAC school leavers who received scholarships on Tuesday (October 25) to assist with the costs of higher education. 

Thirteen MAC students were among 50 students from across the region who received $2,500 each from the Central Lakes Trust for training beyond high school.

“At MAC, our aim is to inspire our students to be creative, curious, courageous and compassionate and all of our scholarship recipients exhibit these qualities,” Nicola said. 

“Among our scholarship recipients we have young people who aspire to study primary education, design communication, engineering, health science, and to enter the defence force.”

MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said she was proud of all the recipients of the CLT scholarships. PHOTO: MAC

The MAC recipients included Kimiya Byrne, Will Collins, Toby Davies, Harry Gilbertson, Isla Henderson, Carter Hewson, Lucy Laws, Daisy Orbell, Layton Osnabrugge, Ella Parker, Rory Read, Hayden Watson and Matai Wells.

CLT deputy chair Kathy Dedo said the higher education scholarships programme had been running for 16 years, during which 634 young people had been supported.

Students from the five high schools in the CLT region were eligible to apply through their school and the selection criteria considered various factors including the applicant’s academic record, all-round qualities and achievements. 

“Each and every one of them should be applauded for their efforts, they have done exceptionally well,” Kathy said. 

“There are few better investments we can make in the future success of our community and this region, than to invest in our young people.” 

Recipients received their scholarships at a special award ceremony held in Cromwell on Tuesday.

Nicola thanked the CLT for the financial support to help recipients embark on the next stage of their lives.

“We are very grateful to the Central Lakes Trust and all the community organisations and individuals who contribute so much to helping our students fulfil their aspirations, offering

them opportunities across the full spectrum of activities both in the classroom and beyond,” she said.