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Scholarships help local students step toward their dreams

Thursday 22 December 2016, 11:08AM

By Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

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BAY OF PLENTY

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology has ended the year in true festive spirit, handing out $25,000 in scholarships to local students ready to take the leap into tertiary study in order to pursue their dreams.

Four of the ten scholarships are in memory of Rosemary Johnson, a pioneer of the then Waiariki Institute of Technology, who passionately developed and implemented new pathways for trade-friendly high school students across the region through into tertiary study.

“I’ve always wanted to help people and I’m really afraid of blood,” says Jasmine McKenzie-Lass from Rotorua Girls High School. “So with nursing ruled out, Toi Ohomai’s Bachelor of Social Work was the right thing to do.”

Having won one of five Toi Ohomai School Leaver Scholarships, Jasmine says she is looking forward to being able to give back to the community while making a career at the same time.

Winner of the 2016 Rotorua Hospitality Award for ‘Best Emerging Chef’, Keegan Watson-Hopwood says his 2016 Hospitality Scholarship will help him gain a qualification to back up the experience he has obtained cooking for the likes of Rydges Rotorua.

“A qualification will also get me paid more really,” he says. “I’ve always had a passion for culinary arts, ever since I was a kid. I left school when I was 16 and I have been cooking ever since. I love creating new things and making people happy through food.

“Dad is pretty stoked as about this scholarship. I’m looking forward to just getting it done.”

“I love kids, I absolutely love kids,” says Jazmine-Mei Wharewera from Te Puke High School. “I’m that one that everyone gives the kids to at Christmas dinner or asks ‘can you babysit please?’, so Early Childhood Education seemed like the perfect choice to help me towards a career as an early childhood carer.”

“This scholarship will be a nice tip in the bucket to help with fees and books etc as I need them throughout the first year.”

With his passion for accounting started by his Rotorua Boys’ High School business studies tutor, Zachary Campbell thanks the encouragement his family gave him to apply for the School Leavers Scholarship which he can now apply towards studying the Bachelor of Applied Management (BAM) in 2017.

“This scholarship will sure help balance the books,” he says. “I’ve heard that accountancy opens a lot of options for the future and I like the sound of that.”

Shania Parkinson from Rotorua Lakes High School feels her lifelong goal of owning her own business is one step closer after winning her scholarship towards the BAM.

“I have never won a scholarship before. My family are very happy that I am studying next year and more so that I am doing it close to home, at Toi Ohomai. Studying locally and saving at the same time is a win-win scenario.

“I was really happy to be told that I had won.”

Complete list of scholarship winners, qualifications and locations
2016 Hospitality Scholarship ($2,500):

Keegan Watson-Hopwood, – Diploma in Culinary Arts Level 5, Rotorua campus.
2017 Toi Ohomai School Leaver Scholarships ($2,500 each):

Jazmine-Mei Wharewera, Te Puke High School – Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, Rotorua campus.


Jasmine McKenzie-Lass, Rotorua Girls High School – Bachelor of Social Work, Rotorua campus.


Zachary Campbell, Rotorua Boys High School – Bachelor of Applied Management, Rotorua campus.


Shania Parkinson, Rotorua Lakes High School – Bachelor of Applied Management, Rotorua campus.


Savannah Chase-Seymour, Te Puke High School – Bachelor of Nursing, Tauranga campus.


Rosemary Johnson Scholarships ($2,500 each):

Leslie Park, Forest View High School – NZ Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory Level 3, Rotorua campus.


Ashley Allen, Whakatane High School – Certificate in Business Administration Levels 3 – 4, Whakatane campus.


Caitlin Cornelissen, Papamoa College – Certificate in Sport and Fitness, and Sport & Health Massage Level 4, Tauranga campus.


Jordan Stacey, Te Puke High School – Certificate in Mechanical Engineering Level 3, Tauranga campus.