Minister Champions More Pacific In STEM - Toloa Awards
The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito
William Sio continues to champion for greater Pacific
participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics) careers with the announcement of the Toloa
Awards, with 8 recipients of the Toloa Community Fund and 13
Toloa Tertiary Scholarships. “The Toloa Programme
encourages more Pacific peoples to embrace with confidence
the learning and career pathways in STEM that can lead to
more fulfilling and more prosperous lives,” says Aupito
William Sio. “Our approach for Pacific peoples is a
whole-of-community approach, with greater participation by
Pacific in the Toloa Programme, helping to address the
long-term challenges of only 2% of the Pacific workforce
involved in STEM careers. “The Toloa Awards
recognises both individual talent and community achievement,
and celebrates the advancements made by Pacific peoples of
Aotearoa in this vital sector. “The Toloa Tertiary
Scholarship winners represent some of the best Pacific
talent, studying some of the world’s most advanced
sciences and technologies and they are our new intake of
Pacific innovators, creators, designers and
explorers. “New technologies are transforming the
way we live and do business, and I’m keen to encourage
more Pacific graduates towards playing a bigger role in the
Pacific region so that they can play their part in tackling
the global challenges of climate change; a real and ominous
threat to our Pacific home countries and
communities. “Through the Toloa Awards, we want to
grow our awareness and demystify STEM subjects, increasing
interest and participation, so our diverse communities will
embrace STEM subjects with confidence and is why the Toloa
Community Fund is so integral and important. The 8
Community Fund recipients provide vital courses to our
Pacific youth and their communities, to deliver innovative
and culturally inclusive ways that are safe, fun and
inspires our communities to realise their fullest potential
in the digital space. “I’m pleased that our
established STEM providers continue to generate sparks of
interests with our young children by making learning fun and
innovative through our Kenese Programme. “I want all
our young people to make the most of their individual
talents and with the support of their families and our
Community Fund recipients, Pacific youth will have the best
chance to prosper, grow and navigate the STEM world,” says
Aupito William Sio. The Toloa Awards ceremonies will
be held in Porirua tonight and in Auckland on the 2 March,
acknowledging the individuals and community
programmes. · Tertiary
Scholarships that support individuals studying at
an advanced level in STEM subjects; ·
Community Fund that support STEM programmes
in local communities; · Kenese
Programme which engages with year seven to year
nine students including parents and families. Fale Pasifika Te Tai Tokerau Good Seed
Trust South
Pacific Professional Engineering Excellence
(SPPEEx) Faith City Trust Board Atafu Tokelau Community Group
Incorporated Pasifika Vision Forum Charitable
Trust Amanaki STEM Academy Bachelor of
Engineering Bachelor
of Science, Biological & Marine Sciences Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) Bachelor of
Biomedical Science (Honours) Bachelor of Civil Engineering Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) Bachelor of
Arts/Bachelor of Engineering Conjoint Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering
& Law Bachelor of
Civil and Environmental Engineering Bachelor of Civil Engineering
(Honours) Bachelor of Chemical Engineering
(Honours) Bachelor of
Civil Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Northern Region -
Kids Coin Central Region -
Capital E Southern Region - Turanga
Va Pasifika Group and
PartnersHon Aupito
William Sio
Minister for Pacific
Peoples
24 February
2020 MEDIA STATEMENT
Notes to Editors:
The Toloa
Programme has three categories:
Toloa
Community Fund Recipients
Northern
Region:
Tuvalu Auckland Community TrustCentral
Region:
Toloa Tertiary
Scholarship Recipients
Northern
Region:
Leilani Stowers (AUT)
Filomena Vaimasenuu (UOA)
Luke
Fitzpatrick (UOA)
Zanetta Toomata (UOA)
Aisea Fanamau
(UOA)
Joshua
Simmons (UOA)
Valerie Lui (UOA)
Pepe Rahui-Toru Mosby
(UOA)
Jalesi Nakarawa (UOA)
Anunson Ott
(UOW)
Southern Region:
Piper Mortimer
(UOC)
Kiriana Andrew (UOC)
Mia Uluiletata
(UOC)
Toloa
Kenese Providers