Last Chance To Apply For Westland Milk Products Scholarship

6 January 2012

Last Chance To Apply For Unique Westland Milk Products Scholarship

Students who are thinking of embarking on tertiary study but fear the cost are being urged to apply for the new Start-Up scholarship established by Westland Milk Products.

The Pike River and Canterbury Disaster Relief Fund, which funds the scholarship, was created this year to acknowledge the hardships faced by families of the Pike River Coal disaster and Canterbury earthquakes.

Westland Milk Products Company Secretary, Mark Lockington says more than $10,000 a year, totalling $100,000 over the next ten years has been dedicated to the fund. Successful applicants will receive a one off payment with the intention of removing barriers to students entering studies.

“This is an exciting opportunity for potential students to take up study plans they might not have previously considered,” Lockington says. “Being one of the West Coast’s largest employers, we recognise the value of a skilled and well trained community and we urge anyone who might be thinking about tertiary training to apply.”

Westland’s current scholarship programme supports university-based tertiary learning, but the Start-Up Scholarship will support all post-secondary school training including polytechnic studies and industry related programmes led by training organisations such as AgITO.

To be eligible, applicants must intend to enrol in a recognised tertiary learning programme and indicate which of the four categories they wish to apply for. The four categories are:
Personal circumstances – e.g. financial, distance, hardship.
Academic / vocational – special interest or ability
Leadership/ personal development –Individual abilities or skills
Dairy Industry Related – On farm training through AgITO, Dairy NZ, etc

Applicants must also demonstrate a link to Westland’s milk supply regions of the West Coast and Canterbury’s Selwyn District, which may include having lived in the specified areas.

Funds provided to successful applications will be determined on a case by case basis according to their study fee requirements.

Westland Milk Products will consider all applications for this unique opportunity received by 12 January 2012 and is urging all potential students to apply today. Visit www.westland.co.nz and follow the Start-Up link or call Nicky Cooper in Human Resources on 03 756 9861.

ENDS