Top Local Students Receive Academic Boost

Five ambitious local students have had the financial pressure of embarking on tertiary study lifted off them thanks to Credit Union North.

Credit Union North’s commitment to “succeeding together” has seen the organisation award a record five bursary scholarships for 2011.

Each hotly-contested scholarship is worth a total of $3000 and will be split evenly over the three years of the recipients’ tertiary study.

Credit Union North Marketing Manager Jack Bills says an unprecedented 70 applications were received this year after the Bursary Awards programme was opened up to non Credit Union North members for the first time in its 15 year history.

“We wanted to offer the opportunity to all school leavers to help advance their future career prospects and we were impressed by the sheer number and high calibre of applications this year.”

The judging criteria was based on the students’ academic achievements, school participation, community participation and the references they provided. Bills says the aim of Credit Union North’s Bursary Awards was to find overall achievers – “not just the dux of the school”.

The deserving recipients – who were chosen by an independent facilitator – all live in the region covered by Credit Union North, which has branches from Thames through to Turangi.

The 2011 Credit Union North Bursary Awards recipients are:
• Layla Croker, Mount Maunganui College
• Aroha Hughes, Mount Maunganui College
• Sarah-Michelle Washer, Ngaruawahia High School
• Marc Brekenrig, Cambridge High School
• Joshua Mcleod, Trident High School, Whakatane

The five students can attend any tertiary education provider they choose, and the $1000 per year will be awarded subject to an annual review of their educational achievement at the end of years one and two.

“We do not want any students to be limited in their career aspirations by whether or not they can afford to study, so we hope this money will make a real difference in their lives.”

Bills says Credit Union North’s number one goal is to ensure that “everyone is better off with us”, and the Bursary Awards – which were increased from four to five this year – are just one way the organisation is helping support its local community.

ENDS

ABOUT CREDIT UNION NORTH
Credit Union North, trading as NZCU North, is a 100% New Zealand-owned financial cooperative and has 16 branches from Thames through to Turangi.
It is a mutual organisation offering a large range of services especially identified by its customers to meet their financial needs. All profits (after providing for necessary reserves and operating costs) are returned to its customers through top interest rates on savings, low cost loans, and reasonable fees.