13 students realise their tertiary dreams

Wed, 13 Oct 2004

First Foundation helps 13 students realise their tertiary dreams

Thirteen financially disadvantaged students are significantly closer to realising their dreams of tertiary education thanks to the First Foundation and its innovative partnership with businesses.

The academically talented students were selected from a range of lower decile schools within the Auckland region and will be presented with their scholarships at a special ceremony on Thursday 14 October. Telecom is a principal sponsor of the First Foundation and CEO Theresa Gattung will be guest speaker at the ceremony.

First Foundation General Manager, Nicki McDonald said the scholarships differ from other programmes because the students' education and development is linked with the participation of businesses and business people.

"Our aim is to provide talented students with a hand-up rather than a handout. A key part of this is matching each of our scholarship students with businesses for paid work experience.

"While the students receive the benefit of developing work-based skills and financial assistance with their tertiary fees, businesses enjoy putting a face to their philanthropy and view it in the same way as an internship scheme.

"People from the wider business community also find it rewarding to give of their time to act as a mentor for each student," she said.

Students begin their work experience in their final year of high school and continue through their tertiary career.

The First Foundation has provided 77 students with tertiary scholarships since it was established in 1998.

2004 First Foundation scholarship recipients:
Name School Partnering business
* Nisha Tailor Kelston Girls High School ASB
* Juanita Jelleyman Kelston Girls High School CGNZ
* Lisa Reddy Kelston Girls High School Douglas Pharmaceuticals
* Yolunda Hickman Mt Roskill Grammar School Healtheries
* Keri Richardson Manurewa High Bendon
* Brooke Loader Manurewa High Noel Leeming Group
* Uani Talagi James Cook High Fliway
* Nicole Coromandel James Cook High Warehouse Stationery
* Sarah Tang Onehunga High Ford Motor C ompany
* Charlotte Poletti Papakura High NZ Dairy Foods
* Sergei Cicovic Penrose High Renton James
* James Bryant Birkenhead College Techniche
* Carl Tuvae De La Salle College Fletcher Construction

ENDS

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