Mike Pero Mortgages Announce Scholarship Winners

Media Release
Thursday 12 November 2009

Three outstanding Year 13 high school students are the recipients of Mike Pero Mortgages’ Foundation tertiary education scholarships for 2010. “We are delighted to announce the three winners who will receive scholarships, two of $5,000 and one of $2,500, which we are sure will give them a financial head start to their university education,” says Shaun Riley, Chief Executive Officer of Mike Pero Mortgages.

Gannin Bell, who is in his final year of study at Auckland’s Rutherford High School, has been awarded a $5,000 tertiary scholarship. He will put this towards a Bachelor of Science at the University of Auckland next year, where he intends to major in Biomedicine in his first year, then in his second year take up a Bachelor of Optometry. Gannin says he was totally surprised to get the phone call advising him of his win.

“I certainly didn’t expect to win the scholarship. The previous winners were so good and of such a high standard, I didn’t think I would have a chance at all,” he says. “My family was wrapped. Mum cried when I told her and now this takes the pressure off her financially. Mum wants to move to Australia with my siblings so she can be near her family. Now that she knows I’m being looked after she can do this.”

Aroha Clarke from Te Puke High School in the Bay of Plenty also received a $5,000 scholarship, which she will put towards a Bachelor of Communications, at Massey University in Albany. Aroha says she was overwhelmed when she found out she had won a scholarship.

“I felt so honoured to be one of the scholarship winners. Out of a whole nation and so many amazing people who applied for the Mike Pero Mortgages Scholarship, to be awarded a scholarship is absolutely fantastic,” she says. “Mum welled up with tears when I told her. It’s such a relief for her as it takes the financial pressure off her. She really is very grateful for that.”

Mitchell Croft from Marlborough Boys’ College in Blenheim won a $2,500 scholarship. He will put this towards a double degree, a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Science, at the University of Canterbury. Mitchell says he was very excited to learn of his win.

“When I got the phone call from the Mike Pero Mortgages broker telling me I had won one of the scholarships I just couldn’t believe it. Mum was very excited at the news, too,” he says. “It’s so important to me to have some financial assistance as it will mean my student loan won’t be so big! It will also help me realise my dream of setting up my own Sports Management business.”

Shaun Riley says the selection panel had a very difficult task to select three final candidates from over 720 applications. He says the standard of applications was very impressive.

“The three recipients, Gannin, Aroha and Mitchell, are very talented students and we believe they will do very well at university. They are all well-rounded individuals who are committed to giving something back to the community,” he says. The Scholarship Programme is a nationwide initiative open to all New Zealand students, aged between 17 and 25, embarking on their first year of tertiary study.

Shaun Riley says the Programme has proven to be very successful since it was introduced four years ago.

“We are thrilled with the response we’ve had from students around the country. Every year we get more people applying for the Scholarship Programme. It’s fair to say it’s going from strength to strength and we are committed to continue providing options for students who show a real dedication to their studies and who may find the cost of quality education prohibitive,” he says.

ENDS