Sir Edmund Hillary
Scholarship Programme
Inspiring excellence, all-round development and leadership
April 2012
Welcome from the Vice-Chancellor
Last year, our Sir Edmund Hillary Scholars shined in sport and the
creative and performing arts as well as academically and I look
forward to seeing them have new successes in 2012.
It’s a pleasure to greet our 40 new Hillary scholars, who represent a range of
disciplines from dance and comedy to swimming and indoor rock climbing.
I’d also like to welcome back our returning scholars and acknowledge your
results inside and outside the university last year.
In 2011, Hillary scholar and New Zealand Ice Fern Anjali Thakker won gold
at the World Ice Hockey Championships while recent graduate Gabe Young,
a world lightweight blokart champion, secured a position at the Microsoft
headquarters in Seattle.
Performing arts scholar Chase Douglas was a guest performer in Hayley
Westenra’s nationwide tour in November. He also accompanied Dame
Malvina Major in her operatic performance at the Hamilton Gardens Arts
Festival held in February. We’ve now welcomed Dame Malvina on staff
as a senior fellow who’ll be working with our top voice students.
New scholar a knock out
For Jessica Howse, growing up with three brothers meant
being rough and tough was essential. Now, the new Hillary
scholar is making her mark in kickboxing and is training for
the world championships being held in England in August.
“My training is quite full on,” says Jessica, who’s studying a Bachelor
of Management Studies. “My trainings range from 1-3 hours a day, but
because of the nature of kickboxing, every training is intense, even just
practising repetitions of techniques takes quite a lot of effort.”
The former Cambridge High School student says she finds the mental
side of kickboxing the most challenging. “Turning around when you’re
about to fight a woman who is as tall and as solid as a giant man is
pretty off-putting, so I focus on staying calm and fighting how I have
been trained to.”
She says the Hillary scholarship
will help her in so many
different ways. “Having my
course fees paid for and the
extra support through the
Hillary programme means that
I can focus on my studies and
getting to the world champs,
which otherwise I would have
struggled to do.”
With key sponsors, Calder and Lawson's Orbit
Corporate Travel and U Leisure, the Hillary
Scholarship Programme continues to grow
and we continue to improve and refine what
we offer our scholars. Thanks also to our many
sports partners and arts advisers who provide
the support and expertise required to develop
the specialist skills of our scholars.
I would also like to acknowledge the Compass Group for their support
in helping the University to establish the Step Higher Award which allows
two Hillary scholars to travel to the Himalayas each year.
The Hillary Scholarship programme is now in its seventh year and I’m certain
achievements in the arts and in sport will continue. I encourage every
scholar to work hard and grasp every opportunity. We are proud to have you
at Waikato.
Professor Roy Crawford
Vice-Chancellor
Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme
WHO CAN APPLY?
» Students who excel academically and in sports or creative
and performing arts
» School leavers
» Current tertiary students
» Students intending to study at the University of Waikato
at either the Hamilton or Tauranga campus.
WHAT DO YOU RECEIVE?
» Full fees Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship to study at
Waikato University
» Personalised academic support
» Leading coaches/tutors or skills development support in your
specialist sport/art
» A Leadership and Personal Development Plan
» Free gym membership and physical conditioning and more.
Follow us on facebook
www.facebook.com/HillaryScholarsWaikatoUniversity
Application forms available via www.waikato.ac.nz/hillary
Proudly sponsored by
NEW SCHOLAR: Jessica Howse.
Hillary Medals for outstanding achievers
Beach volleyball player Hannah Croad and dancer Alex Hitchmough are the recipients of the 2011 University of Waikato
Sir Edmund Hillary medals. The medals recognise scholars who have demonstrated leadership and have excelled academically
and in their chosen art or sport throughout their university careers.
Hannah recently completed a Bachelor of
Management Studies (Hons) majoring in
marketing and strategic management and
is on the cusp of Olympic qualification for
beach volleyball.
She spent the summer braving the elements
competing in the New Zealand beach volleyball
series. “After a successful year of travelling
the world, it was great to be playing some
volleyball at home where the temperature rarely
exceeds 25 degrees,” says Hannah.
“The good thing was we had a lot of international
teams here during the summer for the
New Zealand series, which was really great
because it was the best possible build-up we
could have for Olympic qualifying.”
Dancer Alex Hitchmough recently completed
the honours year of her geography degree,
and has returned to Waikato in 2012 to finish
a Postgraduate Diploma in Political Science.
During the summer she took part in a Summer
Research Scholarship at Waikato where she
looked into site-specific dance research, focusing
on the role that dance can play in developing
a sense of community.
MEDAL WINNERS (L-R): Beach volleyball player Hannah Croad and dancer Alex Hitchmough.
“Ultimately one day I’d love to work for the
UN, but otherwise I’m really interested in working
with community development organisations,”
says Alex.
On top of this, Alex worked on a performance
for the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival held
in February and is also developing community
dance workshops for Hamilton children from
refugee backgrounds.
Throughout her time at university Alex has danced
in numerous local performances, has travelled
to the NZI Sevens to represent UK sports label
Kukri, and has been a dancer and co-choreographer
for the Chiefs and Piston's Cheerleaders.
Scholars given opportunity to experience legacy of Sir Ed
A new award at the University of Waikato is giving senior Sir Edmund Hillary Scholars the opportunity to travel to Khumbu Valley
in Nepal to see and experience the true legacy of the New Zealand explorer.
The Step Higher Award provides for two Hillary scholars to travel
each year to the Khumbu Valley to work with local communities
and the opportunity to trek to Everest Base Camp.
Valued at $6,000 per scholar, the award will cover travel,
accommodation and a daily allowance for up to three weeks.
Recipients will also be assigned a mentor for 12 months to ensure
they maximise the benefits of the award.
Head of Student and Academic Services at Waikato, Michelle
Jordan-Tong, says while we expect a lot from our Hillary students
we also like to see them taking on experiences which challenge
their thinking and take them out of their comfort zones.
“Travelling to Khumbu Valley will reinforce the leadership
elements of the Hillary Programme.”
The Step Higher Award is supported by the Compass Group.
Applications for the Step Higher Award close on Friday
13 April 2012. For award regulations and information visit
www.waikato.ac.nz/scholarships
KHUMBU VALLEY: The new Step Higher Award provides for two
senior Hillary scholars to travel each year to the Khumbu Valley
in Nepal.
2
Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme | April 2012
Hillary scholars
let their pens
do the talking
When 24 Sir Edmund Hillary scholars
took part in a writing programme
last October, they let their pens do
the talking.
The nine-week programme involved writing
weekly letters to Year 5 and 6 students
at Tamahere Model Country School and
aimed to encourage the primary students to
understand the importance of writing.
Among the Hillary
scholars involved was
law and management
student David Dela
Rue. “We were each
partnered up with
a buddy who had
been identified as
a student who had
trouble with reading
DAVID DELA RUE.
and writing.” The
letter writing developed the writing and
proof reading skills of the Tamahere students.
“After the first two or three letters I became
quite close with my buddy. I found myself
wanting to know more about him, how he
was getting on with writing and other stuff.”
Each week the Hillary scholars received and
responded to letters from the Tamahere
students, who then used the letters as
examples for punctuation, grammar and
word use.
“Over the course of the programme we all
started to see improvements in the students’
writing which was really encouraging as we
could see what we were doing was really
helping them,” says David.
Performing arts
scholars shine on stage
Two Waikato musicians have been making headlines recently with outstanding
performances on important New Zealand stages.
Hillary scholar Chase Douglas had quite a summer. Not many
singing students can say they’ve toured with a global superstar
and shared the stage with a Dame in a matter of months.
Chase was fortunate enough to be selected to tour the country
with Hayley Westenra during her 10th Anniversary Homecoming
Tour in November, and a few months later he shared the stage
with world-renowned opera singer Dame Malvina Major at the
Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival.
However, as excited as he is to be in his fourth and final year at
Waikato, the tour with Hayley Westenra is something that will be
hard to beat. “I got the opportunity through a friend of a friend
who knows Hayley and her manager quite well. He got in touch
with Hayley and sent her my demo and CV,” says Chase.
“She is one of the most prestigious and prolific classical crossover stars in New Zealand and the world and they said Hayley
was very picky, so I felt very privileged to have the opportunity.”
WUNDERKIND: Hillary scholar and
cellist Santiago Cañon Valencia was
a guest soloist in the NZSO youth
orchestra concerts in February.
The Bachelor of Music student is making the most of his time left at Waikato and looking forward to being
tutored by Dame Malvina who was recently appointed Senior Music Fellow at the University of Waikato.
“Performing with, and learning under Dame Malvina will be a very humbling and momentous
experience. Just knowing that I have a long way to go before I reach her level of expertise makes me want
to work harder to achieve my goal.”
Meanwhile, fellow scholar Santiago Canon Valencia was the guest soloist in the New Zealand Youth
Orchestra’s Wellington and Auckland concerts held in February.
The third-year student played Shostakovich's challenging Cello Concerto No. 1 and fellow Hillary scholars
Ngaruaroha Martin (violin), Adam Maha (viola), Yotam Levy (cello) and Charlotte Ketel (cello) were
in the orchestra.
Now in his final year at Waikato, Santiago has committed himself to four concerto engagements,
including his first performance with the Victorian Symphony Orchestra in Melbourne in October, and
another two international cello competitions at the end of the year.
He has also recently finished the recording of his first CD of 20th century works for solo cello.
He says taking part in the programme was
a really rewarding and satisfying experience.
“We receive so much from being Hillary
scholars so it’s great to be able to get
involved in a project where we can give
something back.”
Campus Lunchtime
Recital Series
Open to the public, the Recital Series
features performances by Sir Edmund
Hillary Scholars and guest artists.
Performances run every Wednesday at
1pm and are held at the University’s
Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.
Entry by gold coin donation.
ON TOUR: Waikato University
Hillary scholar Chase Douglas
performs with Hayley Westenra
during her 10th Anniversary
Homecoming Tour in November.
Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme | April 2012
3
New 2012 Sir Edmund Hillary Scholars
Returning 2012 Sir Edmund Hillary Scholars continued
Name
Sport(s) or Creative/
Performing Art(s)
Secondary School
Degree(s)
Name
Sport(s) or Creative/
Performing Art(s)
Secondary School
Degree(s)
Kate Carlton
Timothy Carpenter
Thomas Clout
Dolan Cox
Lewis Dean
Samantha Felton
Bjarne Frederiksen
Melanie Freiwald
James Grace
Tracey Hale
Gage Hall
Marnus Hanley
Simmon Howe
Simon Howie
Jessica Howse
Ben Hyde
Kane Jacobson
Brooke Kirkbride
Daniel Krippner
Felicity Leydon-Davis
Adam Maha
Ngaruaroha Martin
Jonothan Merchant
Hamiora Mihaka
Tamsin Moala
Lachlan Musgrave
Samantha Perry
Georgia Perry *PM
Shaunna Polley
Matthew Quinn
Stephanie Rolfe
Cosette Saville
Cassandra Storey
Amelia Taylor
Jeremy Tomkins
Hannah West
Alice White *PM
Blaire White
Kayla Wilson
Shelby Wilson
Mikayla Woods
Louis Wright
Football
Music
Cricket
Music
Comedy
Equestrian
MotoCross
Dance
Karate
Athletics
Graphic Design
Rugby
Netball
Dance
Kickboxing
Cricket
Rugby
Cricket
Indoor Rock Climbing
Badminton/Cricket
Music
Music
Tennis
Rugby League
Netball
Hockey
Graphic Design
Rowing
Volleyball
Graphic Design
Netball
Orienteering
Spring Board Diving
Music
Theatre
Screen and Media
Rowing
Music
Hockey
Swimming
Equestrian
Bike
Tauranga Girls' College
St Peter's College, Cambridge
Tauranga Boys' College
Whakatane High School
Pukekohe High School
Springbank School
Wairarapa College
Lautenberg, Germany
Saint John's College
Otumoetai College
Hamilton Boys' High School
Rotorua Boys' High School
Opotiki College
Melville High School
Cambridge High School
Whangarei Boys' High School
Hamilton Boys' High School
Cambridge High School
Hamilton Boys' High School
Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School
Home schooled
St Peter's School, Cambridge
St Paul's College
Waitara High School
Tauranga Boys' College
Tauhara College
St Peter's School, Cambridge
Hamilton's Fraser High School
Hamilton's Fraser High School
Hawera High School
Pukekohe High School
Sacred Heart Girls' College
Tauranga Girls' College
Tauranga Boys' College
Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School
Sacred Heart Girls' College, Hamilton
Hillcrest High School
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls'
St Peter's School, Cambridge
Matamata College
BSpLS
BMus
BMS/LLB
BMus
BSc
BMS
BECom
BSpLS
BBA
BBA
BCGD
BE
BSpLS
BSpLS
BMS
BMS
BMS
BMS
BE
BSc
PGDipMus
BMus
BMS/LLB
BE
BMS
BMS
BCGD
BCGD
BSc
BCGD
BA
BEP
BMS/LLB
BMus
BTchg/BA
BMCT
BSc
BMus
BSpLs
BSpLs
BMS/BSocSc
BMS
Kate Kernaghan
Charlotte Ketel
Shaun Kirkham *PM
Laura Langman *PM
Andrew Leathwick
Yotam Levy
Oliver Leydon-Davis
Susannah Leydon-Davis
Brayden Lissington
Jessica MacAskill
Hannah Martin
Ngaia Mason
Jeremy Mayall *HM
Emma Millar
Brooke Neal
Hockey
Music
Rowing
Netball
Music
Music
Badminton
Badminton
Football (Futsal)
Table Tennis
Dance
Theatre
Music
Squash
Hockey
St Hilda's Collegiate School
Tauranga Girls' College
Hamilton Boy's High School
Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School
William Colenso College
James Hargest College
Mt Maunganui College
Kamo High School
Hamilton Boys’ High School
Paraparaumu College
Whangarei Girls' High School
Andrew Newton *PM
Surf Life Saving
King's High School
BSpLS
BMus
BCS
GradDip
BMus
BMus
BMS
BMS
BCS
MSc
BMS
BTchg/BA
PhD
BMS/BSpLS
BCS
BTchg
(Tauranga)
Returning 2012 Sir Edmund Hillary Scholars
Name
Sport(s) or Creative/
Performing Art(s)
Secondary School
Degree(s)
Jaimee Agnew
Sonny Aliifaalogo
Craig Armstrong *HM
Kristie Ballie *PM
Hayden Beard
Hannah Beatson
Keir Bettley
Basketball
Rugby
Hockey
Athletics
Golf
Cricket
Cricket
Waikato Diocesan School of Girls'
Wesley College
Waiuku College
Morrinsville College
Mount Maunganui College
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls'
Hamilton Boys' High School
Joshua Blue
Rugby
St Peter's School, Cambridge
Kerikeri High School
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls'
Hamilton Boys' High School
Colegio Virtual Siglo XXI
Otumoetai College
Cambridge High School
Whangarei Girls' High School
Bethlehem College
Tauranga Girls' College
Hillcrest High School
Inglewood High School
Hamilton Boys' High School
Spotswood College
St John's College
St John's College
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls'
Tauranga Boys' College
Gisborne Boys' High School
Thames High School
Cambridge High School
Western Heights High School
Fairfield College
Hillcrest High School
BMS
BSpLS
PhD
BA
BMS
BSpLS(Hons)
BBA
BSocSc/
LLB(Hons)
LLB(Hons)
BSc
BSc
BMS
BMus
BSc
BMS/BSpLS
BMS
BMS
DMA
BCMS
PhD
BMS/LLB
MA
BSc
BSc
BTChg
BMus(Hons)
BA
BCGD(Hons)
PGDip
GradDipT
BA/LLB
BE
Campion College
LLB
Mount Aspiring College
St Peter's School, Cambridge
Chilton Saint James School
Sacred Heart Girls' College, New Plymouth
Rotorua Girls' High School
Mount Maunganui College
Rotorua Boys’ High School
St Peter's School Cambridge
BMS/LLB
BCGD(Hons)
BA/LLB
BMS/LLB
BSpLS
BSocSc
BA/LLB
BSocSc/LLB
Nicholas Brooks
Elsa Brown
Madeleine Brunton
Adam Burn
Santiago Cañon-Valencia
Amy Christophers
James Comer
Natasha Cotton
Luke Coxhead
June Dams
Katrina de Lange
Lizzie de Vegt
David Dela Rue
Delwyn Dellow
Joseph Dix
Joshua Dix
Natalie Dodd *PM
Chase Douglas
Whetukamokamo Douglas
Saranna Drury
Caitlin Easter
Samantha Flay
Natalie Foster
Michael Fowke
Equestrian
Netball
Triathlon
Rugby
Music
Netball
Basketball
Hockey
Hockey
Music
Sailing
Music
Squash
Theatre
Basketball
Basketball
Cricket
Music
Rugby
Graphic Design
Netball
Dance
Theatre
Badminton
Paralympic Sport
Sarah Fuhrer
(Swimming)
Natalie Good
Snowboarding
Haylie Gray
Graphic Design
Courtney Grenfell
Bike
Sharee Hamilton
Basketball
Renee Hannah
Water Skiing
Alexandra Hitchmough *HM Dance
Aperehama Hurihanganui Waka Ama
Kylie Jens
Football
4
St Peter's School, Cambridge
Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme | April 2012
Māori Creative and
Te Wairere Ngaia
Performing Art
Shannon O'Donnell
Water Sking
Graham Oberlin-Brown *PM Rowing
Lucy Olphert
Equestrian
Michael Potts
Theatre
Caitlin Preston
Basketball
Alyce Pulford *PM
Rowing
Andrew Pullon
Swimming
Beverley Pullon
Music
Steven Rae
Cricket
Mariah Ririnui
Athletics
Nicholas Ross
Hockey
Pippa Russell
Screen and Media
Natalie Sangster
Dance
Finian Scott
Rowing
Hanna Seifert
Golf
Oliver Shaw
X-terra
Stephen Sherman
Graphic Design
Angela Simpson
Orienteering
Tendai Sithole
Theatre
Nathaniel Smorti
Music
Brett Sorrenson
Cricket
Jennifer Spark
Music
Madeleine Stapleton
Badminton
Casey Stevens
Surf Life Saving
Timothy Stewart
Athletics
Philippa Sutton
Bike
Kimberley Tanner
Hockey
Jorja Tarrant
Squash
Tyrone Te Ruruku
Rugby
Anjali Thakker
Inline Hockey/Ice Hockey
Brendan Theodore
Theatre
Matthew Thomas
Cricket
Giacomo Thomas *PM
Rowing
Katharine Treadaway
Equestrian
Jenna Walmsley
Music
Tobias Wehr-Candler *PM Rowing
Kate Welten
Equestrian
Michael Whitehead
Athletics
Nikki Whitehead
Kayak
Hamish Williams
Graphic Design
Charlotte Willson
Golf
Corey Wilson
Softball
Zachery Woods
Hockey
Ngā Taiātea Wharekura
BCS
Rotorua Girls' High School
Te Awamutu College
Tauranga Girls' College
Hillcrest High School
New Plymouth Girls' High School
Hauraki Plains College
St Paul’s Collegiate School
Otorohanga College
Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Girls' College
Otago Boys' High School
Tawa College
Sacred Heart Girls' College
Roncalli College
St Peter's School, Cambridge
Western Heights High School
Dargaville High School
Rotorua Lakes High School
John Paul College
Lake Taupo Christian School
Tauranga Boys' College
St Paul’s Collegiate School
Hillcrest High School
Sacred Heart Girls' College, New Plymouth
Paraparaumu College
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls'
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls'
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls'
Wesley College
Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School
Hamilton Boys' High School
Havelock North High School
ACG Strathallan
Church College of New Zealand
Onslow College
Cambridge High School
Waiuku College
Mount Hutt College
Cambridge High School
Fairfield College
Hamilton Boys' High School
Hamilton Boys' High School
BSpLS
BMS
BA
BA(Hons)
BMS
BBA
BMS/LLB
DMA
MMS
BCS
BBA
MA
BTChg/BA
BA
BSpLS/LLB
BSpLS
BCGD
BSc(Tech)
BA/LLB
BMus
GradDipT
BMus(Hons)
BSocSc
BSpLS
BMS
BSpLS
BCS
BSpLS
BSc
BSc
BA
BSpLS
BCMS
BSocSc(Hons)
BMCT
BSc
BTChg
BCMS
BTchg/BSpLS
BCGD
BTchg/BSpLS
BMS
BSc
Correct as at 27 February 2012.
*HM denotes Sir Edmund Hillary Medallist.
*PM means that the student has received
a Prime Minister’s Scholarship.
Scholar assistance contact:
Greg O’Carroll – High Performance Student Manager
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07 838 4264
All other enquiries contact:
Nicola Clayden – Hillary Programme Manager
Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 858 5139 Mobile: 027 478 7331
Scholarship applications:
Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme, Scholarships Office
The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
Phone: 07 858 5195 Toll Free: 0800 WAIKATO
Website: waikato.ac.nz/scholarships
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