Scholarship highlights NZ as global leader in ag climate change
The Government has announced a new scholarship aimed at boosting global scientific expertise in agricultural emissions.
Lachlan Woods, 18, and Alannah Stalker, 17, are the successful recipients of the $3000 scholarship, which is designed to assist with any education or training connected to any facet of the Wanaka A&P Show. They each receive $1000 a year for up to three years of tertiary study.
The society, which owns the up-coming Wanaka A&P Show (March 13-14, 2015), hopes that by offering money towards study, recipients eventually return to the Upper Clutha region and use the skills that they have learnt to benefit the industry and community in the area.
Woods left Wanaka this week to study a Bachelor of Commerce with agriculture at Lincoln University. A long-time supporter of the Wanaka Show, Woods says he is pleased to be a recipient of the scholarship.
"I want my future career to be in the New Zealand primary industries. My interests are farm management and rural finance. Winning this scholarship means I won't have to work part-time during uni, so I can maximise what I'll get out of the course," he says.
Stalker has long-standing ties with the Wanaka Show, with her mother Jane being the current show coordinator. She has competed in equestrian events since the age of four and continues to help out with show duties. One day she hopes to become the society's president. Once this year's show is over Stalker will leave for Christchurch to study a Diploma in Enrolled Nursing at CPIT before eventually studying a Bachelor of Paramedic Science at Massey University in Wellington.
"Winning this scholarship means that someone is giving me more of an opportunity for what I want to do with my career. It's given me the extra drive to do well," Stalker says.
The Agricultural Scholarship is just one of several initiatives by the society to give back to the local community each year. Last year the society gave about $85,000 to the community.
