Student presents $240,000 in scholarships

15 May 2013

Student presents $240,000 in scholarships

Today 34 A-grade university students, recipients of Freemasons scholarships, received nearly a quarter of a million dollars from one of their own. Canterbury University law and politics student Sam Johnson, founder of The Student Volunteer Army, presented the scholarships on behalf of Freemasons New Zealand at Parliament’s Legislative Council Chamber.

Nine postgraduate scholarships of $10,000 and 25 university scholarships of $6,000 were presented to 34 students completing their degrees at Auckland, AUT, Waikato, Massey, Victoria, Lincoln, Canterbury and Otago universities.

For 35 years, Freemasons New Zealand has - through The Freemasons Charity – has funded $4.21 million in scholarships to 1,021 students, making it one of the country’s largest privately-funded university scholarship programmes.

Freemasons Grand Master Selwyn Cooper said he was thrilled that Sam Johnson had agreed to speak to the gathering of scholarship recipients, their families and guests about the formation of The Student Volunteer Army and the opportunities that had since followed.

“We provide these scholarships because we believe firmly in education, the opportunity it offers and the value it delivers society-wide. The only qualification for entry is that the students have consistent A-grades and that they be active volunteers in their communities.

“We confidently expect our scholarship recipients to grow into our leaders of tomorrow,” said Selwyn Cooper.

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