Scholarship “amazing relief” for 1st-year Uni Hall resident

April 2011

Former Greymouth High School prefect Caitlyn Downing has been awarded this year’s Campus Living Villages Cash Scholarship.

Caitlyn, a first-year UC student living in University Hall, was presented this week with a framed certificate and cheque for $5000 from CLV New Zealand Managing Director Tom Gregg.

Mr Gregg said the national prize, open to any student living in Campus Living Villages’ accommodation throughout New Zealand, attracted 45 applications this year but Caitlyn’s stood out.

“We award the prize based on academic success, leadership qualities, and then it really gets down to those that will best benefit from the award. Caitlyn has faced some financial hardship in order to come to Canterbury, including selling her car to help to pay for her hall accommodation costs for 2011.”

Mr Gregg said Caitlyn’s commitment to her studies at high school had also impressed the selection panel.

“When she was at school at Greymouth High, she was a very active and involved student, and even needed to study one of her subjects via video link to a teacher working elsewhere. She had a strong leadership role in her community and school.”

Caitlyn, who comes from Blaketown in Greymouth, is taking papers in psychology, history, classics and education with a view to specialising in child and family psychology. She said winning the CLV scholarship was “an amazing relief”.

“Being just a first-year at the University of Canterbury has been quite overwhelming with all the expenses that come with being a student and the amount of study certainly was a big surprise compared to what I was used to at high school. Honestly though, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the student lifestyle here at UC. It certainly has been an experience having lectures in tents but the University has done an incredible job at getting things up and running after the earthquake.

“Choosing to live at Uni Hall is the best decision I have made, the vibe here is awesome and for my first year away from home I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. It has been a really rewarding experience and I look forward to many more years at UC."

ENDS

© Scoop Media