Award acknowledges deserving students

14 February 2011

For immediate release

Award acknowledges deserving students

The outstanding courage and perseverance of three Wellington university students has been recognised with the presentation of the 2011 John Burns Study Award by the Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral AJ Parr, MVO, at Defence Headquarters today.

‘Each of the recipients has shown great personal strength and determination to succeed and achieve their dreams in the face of adversity,” said Rear Admiral AJ Parr, MVO. “These qualities are key attributes at the heart of the Navy’s values and we are very pleased to be able to acknowledge the recipients hard work and courage as they continue with their tertiary education goals.”

This year’s recipients are:

·               Rachael Tracey (21), from Waikanae, who will be returning to Otago Polytechnic for the second year of a Bachelor in Occupational Therapy Degree.

·               Lisa Ryan (19) who will be undertaking her second year of a Law Degree at Victoria University. Lisa lives in Papakowhai.

·               Lucy McLeod (18) attended Samuel Marsden Collegiate and lives in Karori, Wellington. Lucy will be starting a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degree at Canterbury University.

The award was established by Patricia Burns as a memorial to her late brother John Burns, a naval officer who died in 1967 after suffering years of ill-health. Patricia wanted to ensure that recipients knew that success could still be realised despite adversity just as her brother had shown by his many achievements.

“We received a number of impressive applications this year and it is always challenging to select the final recipients,” said Mark Cassidy, Public Trust Senior Relationship Manager. “The level of commitment shown by this years recipients really is outstanding and we look forward to following the progress of these remarkable young people.”

The John Burns Study Award is administered by Public Trust. Recipients are selected by an advisory committee which includes representatives from Public Trust and the Royal New Zealand Navy.

This year’s grants, worth a combined total of $4,000, will provide financial assistance to the recipients to help enable them to undertake tertiary study. The individual grants vary depending on individual need.

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