New students' leadership potential rewarded

Twins Hollie and Dane Cleaver have had their leadership ambitions boosted in their first year at Massey.

The 18-year-olds have been selected to join the College of Business Captains’ Club, putting them among 53 students who share in $265,000 of study bursaries in recognition of their roles as leaders at schools or clubs.

Ms Cleaver was a sports prefect and captain of the Palmerston North Girls' High School football team last year. She has enrolled in a Bachelor of Business Studies at the Manawatu campus. Her brother was captain of the Palmerston North Boys High School cricket 1st XI, now plays for Manawatu as a wicket keeper and batsman and represented the New Zealand’s under-19 world cup team this summer. He is doing two degrees – a Bachelor of Business Studies and a Bachelor of Science.

Their father, Mark, is a Massey staff member and alumnus. He has a degree in agriculture and a graduate diploma in business and is now the University's Research Management Services Director. Mark Cleaver says it was a bonus for him that both children chose to stay in Manawatu.

"With Dane, he chose to be here because it suited his cricket interests and his choice of courses. For Hollie, she wanted to do a combination of psychology and human resource management papers and decided Massey had the best on offer."

Ms Cleaver says her ultimate goal is to play football for New Zealand. She sees her degree as offering a broad base of leadership skills. “As a sports captain you have to be able to motivate the team on the pitch and have a positive influence to encourage them to turn up and train hard."

College of Business Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Lawrence Rose says the club was established to recognise emerging leaders from a range of sporting and cultural spheres and support them in their studies. "These students can be future figureheads in business in New Zealand or worldwide. They have shown they have the attributes to succeed and to lead. They are people who can make a difference.”

Others selected include former secondary school pupils from throughout New Zealand including head boys and girls, prefects, sports captains and the leaders of cultural or elite groups. To qualify they must be studying full time in any college of business programme. Each receives a $5000 contribution towards their course fees.

Club members will be welcomed onto all three Massey campuses this week by Professor Rose and senior college staff.