Three young Upper Clutha locals have been selected to receive scholarships from the Wanaka A&P Show and Upper Clutha A&P Society.

The Upper Clutha A&P scholarship programme, in its eleventh year, contributes a total of $4,500 to three young people to help them achieve their goals.

Long-time Wanaka Show volunteer Neve Stalker, 16, has won the personal development scholarship which allowed her to complete a confidence and skill-building sea voyage with the Spirit of Adventure Trust. 

Neve has been helping out with various aspects of the A&P Show for many years, organisers said.

“I love working and contributing to the Wanaka community and I plan to use my newfound skills and push them back into the show,” Neve said. “I am comfortable working in the background, on the front desk or amongst the animals and I’m ready to help where needed.”

The scholarship selection criteria is based on leadership potential, academic merit, personal qualities and commitment and it’s hoped that each recipient will ultimately participate or pass on the benefits of their learning to the Upper Clutha A&P Society and the Wanaka Show.

As well as the personal development scholarship, there are two open tertiary scholarships for students who are enrolled in full-time study related to the primary industries or other beneficial study. 

Former Lake Hāwea resident Rata Horan, 18, who is majoring in psychology and management under a Bachelor of Arts and Commerce degree at Otago University has received one of the open tertiary scholarships.

Rata has participated in the Wanaka Show home industry competitions since she was just five-years-old.

“Although my course will take me out of the Upper Clutha region, Wanaka and Hāwea will always be my home and a place I will come back to,” Rata said. “I hope that one day I can bring the skills I learn through this course back to Wanaka and help the community that has given me so much.”

The second open tertiary scholarship recipient is Millicent Robinson, 17.

Millicent has competed in the equestrian events of the Wanaka Show for five years with great success, including winning the Horse Power and Speed events in both 2018 and 2019. 

The scholarship will help her pursue a double degree in Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Canterbury this year.

Wanaka A&P Show event manager Jane Stalker said the scholarships are one of the ways the show gives back to the community each year.

“The Wanaka Show is now one of the South Island’s largest lifestyle events and much of that success can be attributed to the incredible support from the people of the Upper Clutha,” Jane said. “...The show has been gifting scholarships for 11 years to help some of these people achieve their own success.”

PHOTO: Supplied