Scion awards 2006 Suffrage Centennial Scholarship

For Immediate Release
18 December, 2006

Scion awards 2006 Suffrage Centennial Scholarship

One of Rotorua's female secondary students has just received a jump start to her future career thanks to a scholarship from Rotorua-based Crown Research Institute, Scion.

Sujeetha Jayaprakash, from Western Heights High School, is the 2006 recipient of the 13th annual Scion Suffrage Scholarship. She will receive a $1500 cash grant towards her tertiary studies, as well as guaranteed vacation work at Scion for the duration of her undergraduate study.

The Scion scholarship commemorates the 1993 New Zealand Suffrage Centennial and is open to local female senior students who plan to undertake a tertiary qualification that will impact the forestry or biomaterials industry. Potential study areas include the life sciences, engineering sciences and economics.

Selection is made based on academic achievement, as well as contribution to school and community life.

Sujeetha will be attending Waikato University next year where she will be working towards a Bachelors Degree in Biotechnology.

"It is an exciting time to be in science right now and it will be important to have more women in the field so they can continue to contribute. The Scion scholarship is looking to make a real difference by encouraging women in to science and in my opinion, it has already begun to do so," says Scion scientist and Suffrage Scholarship judge Dr Christine Todoroki.

"I am honoured to have been on the scholarship judging panel for four years. Every year I am amazed at the accomplished young women I interview. I would like to congratulate all those who applied this year and wish them well in their future studies," says Dr Todoroki.

Katie Clark is one the 2005 scholarship recipients and is currently working in the Biomaterials Engineering unit at Scion, fulfilling part of the scholarship vacation work prize. Having just completed her first year at Canterbury University, working toward a Bachelor of Engineering degree, Katie says that her work experience in a research laboratory is paying off.

"This work opportunity is a real head start for me as I begin each semester. It makes a difference if you keep your mind working through the holidays."

"But it's not just the lab work that brings me back each year, Scion has a great working environment and the people here are really encouraging," says Katie.

ENDS

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