2016 university scholarships - freemasons...

Freemasons New Zealand2016 UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

Legislative Council ChamberParliament Buildings, Wellington

Wednesday 25 May 2016

1

Programme

The programme begins at noon

All guests seated

Welcome John Litton, Grand Master

Address Jacinda Ardern, Labour List MP in Auckland Central and a Freemasons University Scholar. Jacinda received a Freemasons University Scholarship in 2001 while in her final year of a Bachelor of Communication Studies from the University of Waikato.In 2007 Jacinda was only the second woman elected President of the International Union of Socialist Youth—the largest international political youth organisation in the world—headquartered in Vienna, Austria.A year later, she was elected to Parliament as a List MP in the 2008 general election. Jacinda is currently Labour’s spokesperson for Justice, Arts, Culture and Heritage; Children; and Small Business. She is also the Associate Speaker for Auckland Issues and is considered a rising star within the New Zealand political scene.In 2014 Jacinda was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.

Presentation of scholarships

Address Hamish Beattie of Victoria University of Wellington, representing the 2016 Freemasons University Scholars

Group photographs

Refreshments

2

Welcome from the Grand Master

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2016 Freemasons University Scholarship

Presentations.As Grand Master, I have the privilege to meet and

interact with many people from different walks of life when visiting our Masonic Lodges throughout New Zealand. I often meet representatives of the groups and organisations we assist.

Few occasions give me more pleasure than welcoming the Freemasons University Scholars at occasions such as this, and having the opportunity to talk to you, your families and supporters.

Our university scholarship programme began in 1978 and has become the largest privately funded such programme in New Zealand. Over that time it has provided nearly $4.8 million in university and postgraduate scholarships to 1,105 of the country’s top scholars.

The academic prowess and the splendid volunteer achievements displayed by our 26 Freemasons scholars this year are to be admired. Despite busy academic lives, you have all discovered the benefits of giving freely of your time and expertise to help others.

As Freemasons, we consider it a privilege to learn of your continuing success. For us, this success is an investment in our country’s future.

Our congratulations to you all.

John LittonGrand Master

3

On behalf of the Scholars

Freemasons New Zealand Grand Master John Litton, Jacinda Adern MP, distinguished guests,

Freemasons throughout New Zealand, fellow scholars, ladies and gentlemen. Greetings to you all.

I am honoured to address you on behalf the 2016 Freemasons New Zealand scholarship recipients. I would first like to express my gratitude to Freemasons New Zealand, and acknowledge with great appreciation the significance of your contribution to our education.

As recipients of these prestigious scholarships, we now have an increased ability to follow our passions and dreams. This year’s scholars will use their scholarships in a variety of ways. Personally, this support will help me conduct field research in marginalised communities overseas.

Your generosity will have a unique contribution to each of our chosen fields. Without your support many of the endeavours we are embarking on would be significantly harder to achieve. On behalf of the 2016 Freemasons scholars I express our most sincere thanks to Freemasons New Zealand.

While writing this address I came to ponder our individual roles in the context of time and was reminded of Isaac Newton’s famous expression “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”. None of us made it here today alone. Each of us stands on the shoulders of those who came before us. Each of us is also braced in our positions by those who support us. These are our parents, our mentors, our leaders, our teachers and the innovators in our respective fields. Our role as scholars and members of our communities is to build solid foundations for those who will follow us, and to acknowledge those upon whose foundations we stand. However, our duty is not to just strive upwards in our endeavours. We should also look laterally, to the constructions and foundations

4

of others, and lend our expertise in helping them lay their own.

Freemasons scholars of 2016—let this scholarship stand as a mark of this duty to follow the example of all Freemasons as we endeavour to work in our own professions with integrity, goodwill and charity.

To do this, we must always try to ask the right questions. Recently I was reading a passage from the 2016 Pritzker prize-winning Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena whose work focuses on projects of public interest and social impact. He stated his work has shifted focus to become predominantly about precise analysis of the communities in which he works as opposed to forcing a conventional architectural solution from the outset. He went on to state that nothing is more dangerous when delivering built outcomes for a community than answering with precision the wrong question.

We must not think of analysis as hindering how we implement our goals. We must view it as the process that injects the richness of life into a proposition. Every innovator in every field excels at asking the right questions. And not only do they know how to do it themselves; they know how to teach that skill to others. My challenge to this year’s Freemasons scholars is that, before you seek answers, make sure that you first ask the right questions.

On behalf of the scholarship recipients receiving their awards here today, thank you once again.

Hamish BeattieVictoria University of Wellington

5

Scholarship recipients

UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND POSTGRADUATE

Natalie GermannSeeking a diverse and meaningful career is the driver for all that Natalie Germann of St Heliers, Auckland does in her study and voluntary work. Initially studying commerce, Natalie soon realised the fulfillment she needed lay in the area of psychology.

Last year she graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours majoring in psychology, attaining sixteen A+, nine A and five A- grades. She is now working towards her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with her research focusing on the prevention of sexual violence.

On graduating as a clinical psychologist Natalie hopes to work in research and clinical settings with at-risk youth, encouraging them to make positive life choices and avoid the path towards the criminal justice system. With aspirations to work as a forensic psychologist, she hopes to instill a sense of hope and empowerment in prisoners or at-risk youth, encouraging them to rebuild their lives in a meaningful and crime-free way.

Compassion, empathy and a belief in a potential for change has seen Natalie volunteer with society’s marginalised such as the homeless, prisoners, individuals with disabilities, drug and alcohol addicts, and patients in mental health wards at hospitals.

Natalie’s extensive volunteering and work experience has provided insight, fostered understanding and inspired her interest in clinical psychology. She has volunteered and/or worked at Te Whetu Tawera (Auckland District Health Board’s Acute Mental Health Unit for adults), Prisoners Aid & Rehabilitation Society, StarJam, Turn Your Life Around, Youthline, Odyssey House, Recovery Solutions, and Youthtown. She has

6

also taken on numerous leadership roles throughout her studies with the Peace Foundation Council, the University of Auckland Ethics Committee, the University’s Postgraduate Students’ Association and the Rotaract Club of Auckland City.

UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND

David ColePlay and work are the motivators for David Cole of Belmont, Auckland studying Honours in history at the University of Auckland. Organising play events and activities for 50,000 young Aucklanders through the Getin2life Youth Development Trust each year has been a voluntary interest for David for five years. His part-time work helps to fund his university study.

This year, David’s Honours dissertation will see him complete a study of late antique/early medieval slavery, with a focus on the realities of slavery and serfdom under the early feudal economy.

He has a long-term interest in teaching the Humanities, wants to do MA and PhD studies, and will then decide whether to be a secondary school teacher or university lecturer.

David intends to keep working with youth charities to better the situation of Auckland’s young people. The speed of urbanisation in Auckland is placing pressure on traditional play space. Through David’s work, mentoring and volunteering with Getin2life, the organisation is able to demonstrate that using existing public space as play space provides children with play areas without further investment.

David is particularly interested in helping start-up charitable organisations secure stable funding and support, an aspect of his work at Getin2life that he is keen to share.

Welsh born and schooled in Auckland, David admits to being cricket-obsessed, supporting the Black Caps. That is unless they are playing England … then he faces a conundrum.

7


Hannah PymWith medieval England her specialty subject, Hannah Pym of Auckland’s North Shore, believes she will eventually find her perfect job as a museum curator.

Having achieved a Bachelor of Arts majoring in history and English from the University of Auckland, Hannah is now undertaking an Honours in history. Her dissertation subject is ‘Isabella of France: The Black Legend and Historical Reality’. She plans to undertake a Master’s and, eventually, a PhD.

In the meantime, Hannah is enjoying the museum environment working for Auckland War Memorial Museum as a visitor host. During a year’s study at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, she volunteered as part of a team auditing a collection of objects stored during extensive redevelopment at the Museum of Norwich, a community history museum.

While away, Hannah combined her love of volunteering and history at family events held at Historic Royal Palaces. She supervised children in activities at Tudors on Tour, and facilitated interactive activities at the Tower of London, encouraging children to learn about the role of the Tower in England’s history.

During her study exchange year Hannah wrote an online blog for Verge, an American travel magazine. Hannah has also worked as a private English tutor and taught NCEA Level 1 English to secondary school children needing extra help.


Florence ReynoldsNaturally curious with a passion for learning, Florence Reynolds of Karori, Wellington is undertaking Honours in geography. Last year she completed a conjoint Bachelor of Arts majoring in psychology and Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology (specialising in conservation and biosecurity) at the University of Auckland.

8

During her Honours study and research, Florence will explore how environmental decisions are made, how power is shared, whose voices are heard, and how we might better include those who are traditionally marginalised in decision-making. Her work with youth, environmental and poverty-focused organisations has inspired an interest in this area.

Florence’s academic studies and community involvement complement each other and sparked her interest in plastic pollution. She founded Plastic Diet in 2013, an organisation which engages university-aged volunteers to advocate, take action and support businesses transition to waste solutions. Plastic Diet was later selected for Live the Dream, a national accelerator programme to develop young social entrepreneurs and their ventures.

In 2014 Florence ran 219 km over six days through Atacama Desert, Chile as an impossible2Possible ambassador. Her aim was to inspire and empower other young people. A member of the 2013 Plastic Bottle Kayak expedition, Florence was project leader of the 2015 Abel Tasman expedition in which she padded a kayak built of recycled materials.

As a member of the Aotearoa Youth Leadership Institute’s delegation, Florence attended the Paris Climate Conference. She is also involved with the P3 Foundation that aims to end poverty in this generation and with Generation Zero, which seeks solutions so that we can see liveable cities that are free of fossil fuels and have smart transport.

UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO POSTGRADUATE

Fiona JacksonFrom Hollywood to Silverdale, Hamilton, Fiona Jackson is still living her movie dream as she tackles the final year of a PhD in screen and media at the University of Waikato. During her twenties Fiona worked as an actor, stunt performer and director’s assistant in California.

9

Her thesis—redefining independent filmmaking—will examine what people must do to enjoy a productive and sustainable filmmaking career. Fiona is aware of how hard it is for women and the economically disadvantaged to find the time, resources and education needed for filmmaking, but knows how important their stories are to society and that they deserve to be told through film.

Fiona’s research has included co-writing, securing funding and producing the film Penny Black, giving a young cast and crew a unique opportunity to work at the feature film level. Penny Black screened successfully in cinemas around New Zealand in March and a percentage of the box-office takings was donated to food charities.

Fiona’s course of study was designed to open as many career doors as possible and to enable her to build a working life around the needs of her two daughters. She also tutors and co-teaches papers on video production, writing for the screen, and screen theory.

With strong links to the Girl Guide movement, Fiona was asked to be unit leader with a local group of 12 girls. Under her leadership the girls excelled in their guide programme and the unit more than doubled in size.

During her academic studies, teaching and voluntary work, Fiona has helped people make the most of their abilities—something she intends to continue throughout her burgeoning filmmaking career.

UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO

Elliot BaptistConsidering he has always loved making things that beep and flash, an engineering career was always likely for Elliot Baptist of Whatawhata, Hamilton. So far, Elliot has achieved an average A+ in his Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Engineering at the University of Waikato, and is now in his final Honours year.

Elliot thrives on making ‘innovative techy things’ and has his career mapped out, initially developing products at a start-up company in New Zealand or overseas. He loves the fresh edge of start-ups

10

and being able to work on all elements of a project including hardware and software design, testing and manufacturing.

From age 12 Elliot began volunteering at the Waikato Museum’s Excite science centre. There over seven years his technical and professional skills developed as he helped fix computers, build robotic arms, design interactive exhibits and guide school groups around the science exhibitions.

Elliot is an active member of The Glen Afton Line—Heritage Railway. The volunteer organisation dedicates itself to restoring, running and preserving equipment mainly from heritage bush railways, including locomotives, rolling stock and some stationary equipment. Over eight years he has taken on numerous roles and is in his second year as club chairperson—the youngest in the club’s history. Elliot is also a qualified driver of the club’s diesel, petrol and electric locomotives.


Morgan FaheyMorgan Fahey of Hamilton is completing a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours with majors in chemical and biological engineering at the University of Waikato.

Morgan aims to work in the food and beverage industry to learn more about practical process design. Ultimately this will make process technology more accessible to improve global food distribution and nutrition. Morgan is excited by projects that will nurture her community spirit and take her to engineering sites around the world.

She is a young leader, expanding networks between students, lecturers and professional engineers through her 2016 presidency for the university’s Young Engineers Society, and as a board member of Student Engineers New Zealand.

Founding her passion for social service, she was honoured to be Head Girl at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls. Recognising the value of empathy,

11

family, empowerment of others and determination in any pursuit has enabled Morgan to achieve to a high standard in all areas of her life.

Morgan has earned various awards and scholarships, recognising academia, community involvement and leadership. Most recently, she received the award for top student across the chemical, biological, materials and process engineering programmes at the University of Waikato. She is one of the Faculty’s student ambassadors and has tutored papers in mathematics.


Elizabeth (Beth) Pearsall-PetersOriginally from the northern Coromandel peninsula but now residing in Raglan, Beth Pearsall-Peters is completing a Bachelor of Science majoring in biological science at the University of Waikato.

Beth’s studies in biology focus on terrestrial ecology and plant function as healthy ecosystems that lay the foundation for life on Earth. She has worked on forest ecology research with professors and postgraduate students on a summer scholarship and won awards for her academic achievements and cultural contributions.

Beth’s passion for the arts and social justice inspired eight years of international travel after leaving high school. Working in diverse jobs and volunteering in a variety of cultures and settings showed her the reality of human impact on the planet and motivated her to develop viable solutions and pathways to a more sustainable future.

Beth’s extensive community work is spread across a variety of organisations. Among them are sustainable food production as the president of the Waikato University Gardeners Club, and outdoor and environmental education for children with the Karioi Kids programme. And she promotes sustainability and resilience within the community as a committee member of the Whaingaroa Environment Centre. Beth has also volunteered with Red Cross supporting refugee

12

families and educating the public on how to prepare for a disaster.

Beth hopes to use the knowledge gained from her degree and community involvement to lead restoration projects that will inform those in governance how and why ecosystem function is vital developing and maintaining for a healthy human population.

MASSEY UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE

Kathryn StrangPassionate about wildlife, zoology and conservation, Kathryn Strang of Waitoa in the Waikato has her eye on feral cats. In the final stages of a PhD in Zoology from Massey University, her thesis is titled ‘The behavioural ecology of feral cats and impact on native fauna’. Kathryn is a qualified kiwi bander, with skills in telemetry, camera trapping and feral cat trapping and collaring.

Kathryn is conducting her study on an island in the Hauraki Gulf that has a dense population of North Island brown kiwi. The only mammalian predators there are feral cats. The study site is saturated with motion-sensing cameras, allowing her to study how kiwi and cats co-exist within the habitat. Kathryn’s research will enhance our understanding of feral cats in New Zealand ecosystems.

During her days at Te Aroha College she volunteered for Riding for the Disabled. Since starting university her community involvement has centered on conservation work locally and internationally. At the Mlawula Nature Reserve in Swaziland, Kathryn tracked leopard tortoises using radio transmitters. In the Amazon Basin in Peru, she set up camera and track traps to monitor jaguar, puma, ocelot and other feline mammals. And in North Sumatra she is helping to start a project to protect the Sumatran tiger. She has been involved in a wildlife survey of Motu Kōkako Island in the Bay of Islands and a kiwi survey on an island in the Hauraki Gulf.

13

MASSEY UNIVERSITY

Wendy BrownWendy Brown of Sunnybrook, Rotorua is a mature student at Massey University working towards a postgraduate diploma in psychology. She has developed a non-retirement plan of becoming a registered psychologist working in private practice, with a mix of paying and koha clients.

She started her degree thirty years ago. Two children and a career working in the social sector in various frontline, backroom and leadership roles later, Wendy is again a full-time student coping with the rigours of academia and excelling at her chosen field.

Recently Wendy joined Victim Support as a volunteer on a daily roster and is delighted to be able to ‘pay forward’ to others the help she once received from Victim Support. In the past, Wendy has volunteered at the local Foodbank and helped as a trained Family Budget Adviser.

While her age cohort has their calculator out planning their retirement, Wendy decided to forego retiring at 65 years and instead set up in practice as a psychologist so she could continue to be of use to her community for as long as possible.

MASSEY UNIVERSITY

Tessa-Maree NielsenTailoring exercise to improve the health of people with serious medical conditions is key to Hokowhitu’s Tessa-Maree Nielsen who is completing her Bachelor of Sport and Exercise with Honours, majoring in exercise prescription and training at Massey University’s Palmerston North campus.

Her study is providing hands-on experience as she works with a range of people with specific health conditions. She is exploring the gap that exists between hospitals and home for those suffering from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating health conditions.

14

Tessa believes that through exercise and health education, hospital visits and medication dosages could be significantly reduced.

On completion of her Honours, Tessa will work within the health sector prescribing exercise and, ultimately, would love to run her own clinic.

For the last three years Tessa has volunteered assisting netball athletes from Palmerston North Girls’ High School. This year she is a volunteer sports mentor as part of a talent programme aimed at helping young netball players.

An energetic volunteer, Tessa works with Massey University staff to improve their health through exercise and lifestyle changes, helps organise the exercise aspects of the area’s major smoke-free event, and is keen to be involved locally in preventing and managing diabetes.

MASSEY UNIVERSITY

Katheryn Margaret PascoeMulti-talented would be the best description of Katheryn Margaret Pascoe of Rotorua, who is completing a Bachelor of Social Work at Massey University’s Palmerston North campus.

Katheryn has performance skills that few other social workers could lay claim to. She has expertise in stilt-walking, juggling, trick fire hula hooping, poi and fire-eating learned during her years with the Massey University Fire Club. The members of the circus-based arts and performance group are tertiary students in Palmerston North.

In March, Katheryn took on a new full-time role with the Massey University Student Association as the Distance Student Advocate. She provides support, advice and assistance to distance students experiencing a number of challenges, ranging from academic grievances and grade disputes to financial hardship, harassment and housing.

Katheryn is looking forward to better knowing Massey University’s large extra-mural community and assisting them on their tertiary journey. Advocacy is a

15

passion for Katheryn, aligning with her values of social justice and human rights.

Ultimately Katheryn would like to return to her hometown of Rotorua and work in the area of adolescent mental health, giving back to the community who raised her. In the meantime, postgraduate studies and maintaining her involvement in circus arts will keep her busy.

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON POSTGRADUATE

Hamish BeattieImproving the quality of life for waste picker communities in inhabited landfills is the basis of Hamish Beattie’s thesis as the Napier student works towards a PhD in Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington.

Hamish is particularly interested in how socially motivated design can draw public attention to pressing global issues. Many marginalised people around the world turn to landfills and scavenging as a source of livelihood. While these communities are often well organised, this is not always so in areas with high migration, cultural fluidity and large numbers of vulnerable children, widows, and disabled.

Throughout his architectural studies Hamish has been interested in sustainable and innovative design, particularly for ageing and low socio-economic populations.

Hamish has been the recipient of numerous student architectural awards and his Master’s thesis was competitively selected for entry into the Royal Institute of British Architects competition for the best student designs in the Commonwealth. Last October he presented this research at the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia conference in Christchurch.

Long term Hamish plans to provide consultancy to organisations dealing with development issues and to

16

eventually have the capacity to deliver his own projects internationally.

Over the last nine years Hamish has been involved in Surf Life Saving New Zealand as a senior lifeguard, patrolling high-risk Hawke’s Bay beaches and as a senior instructor in a beach education programme.

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON

Lucy McLeanWhether her voluntary work drives her academic studies or the other way around, Lucy McLean of Mount Cook, Wellington couldn’t be happier as she completes the final year of a Bachelor of Science majoring in psychology and development studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

For the past five years Lucy has volunteered at the Wellington Soup Kitchen serving evening meals, collecting in annual appeals and as a member of the Wellington Youth Choir, singing at functions for the elderly.

Last year Lucy became a phone counsellor at Youthline Wellington, showing a genuine commitment and drive to support young people in the community. It inspired her to complete a third-year research project on youth work in Wellington.

She is particularly interested in cross-cultural psychology and working with youth. Lucy plans to spend the next few years undertaking youth work locally and in the Pacific Islands, learning languages to assist her study. On returning home a career involving cross-cultural psychology and social development is likely.

Lucy feels her undergraduate degree has given her an in-depth understanding of how people think and interact, and how to implement these aspects in society-level planning and policy. She places great value on the hands-on experience and skills she has gained through her voluntary work which has provided a clearer understanding of her academic studies.

17


Melanie ThompsonTiming is everything and now in her second stint at Victoria University of Wellington, Melanie Thompson of Blenheim, is excelling. On the basis of her grades, Melanie graduated a semester early with her Bachelor of Science majoring in biotechnology and minoring in cell and molecular biotechnology. She is now in the first semester of Honours, again majoring in biotechnology.

In 2006 Melanie began a Bachelor of Arts majoring in international relations and development studies. She put her studies on hold for a period of travel and adventure in Europe and gaining management and retail skills. Academic staff see Melanie as an outstanding example of how a slightly more mature student returning after several years outside of academia can approach study with a clear focus and ambition to achieve the very highest levels of success.

In 2014 Melanie was selected as the only science student for the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia. Her participation in the study tour of Southeast Asia was both a consequence and cause of her passionate wish to make a difference and to use science to that end. She is particularly interested in genetics, immunology and vaccines against traditional infection and cancer. Melanie is keen to work in a biotechnology firm in novel drug design and delivery or on biotechnology in environmental management.

Melanie loves to share the joy she finds in science with wider audiences and is involved in Chiasma, a student-led non-profit organisation that fosters connections between science and business. In her case, Melanie is encouraging innovation and collaboration between science students and the biotechnology industry. She has also spoken to visiting high school students at Study at Victoria Open Day. And she is a student member of Graduate Women Wellington.

18


Morgan WatkinsWith a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science completed, Morgan Watkins of Te Aro is continuing his study towards a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Victoria University of Wellington. This is the second Freemasons University Scholarship awarded to Morgan.

Morgan is currently on a semester-long exchange at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark where he is studying electives at Masters’ level in negotiation techniques, international human rights law and international energy law.

Morgan is undertaking research in the school of Information Management into the ‘dark sides’ of participatory culture online. This study has application to privacy and internet issues, the area of expertise he is keen to eventually work in, whether in the private or public sector.

With an extensive volunteering career with Wellington City Youth Council, Greens@Vic and the university’s Disability Support Services, Morgan is transitioning to skills-based volunteer roles around the university, due to increased workload and pressure of study at higher undergraduate levels.

Since March 2015, Morgan has served as a volunteer assistant editor for the VUW Law Review and the New Zealand Journal of Public and International Law.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE

James TapperA love of sports and problem-solving sees James Tapper of Rangiora in his final year of a Master of Planning at Lincoln University. His dissertation focuses on reviewing the resource consent process that the private sector faces when developing sports facilities that benefit the community.

James is currently undertaking qualitative research to address this topic, including the reasons why private

19

developers find it difficult to establish sports facilities. He aims to provide insight into how the resource consent process can be made more efficient for private sector developers aiming to build facilities that will benefit the community.

An active sportsperson, James is heavily involved in playing, coaching and administrative roles with local cricket and basketball teams.

James has until lately been a house tutor at St Andrew’s College boarding house, with responsibility for the care of 42 male students in their early teens. An important aspect of this role is to provide a role model for the students, to aid them in developing their character.

Over the past year he has been a volunteer tutor for the ‘First Steps to Literacy’ course at the Hagley Adult Literacy Centre in Christchurch, supporting people with intellectual and learning disabilities to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills.

James looks forward to using his planning skills to help resolve challenging issues within the community and wider society. His experience and enjoyment of empowering young people may ultimately also see him taking on teaching and coaching roles.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY

Genevieve StevenA career in agriculture was a natural choice for Genevieve Steven, who was raised on the family farm at Pleasant Point, South Canterbury.

At Lincoln University and in her final year of study for a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, she is completing an Honours project on soil microbiology, researching bacteria associated with phosphate solubilisation in soils. Phosphate—a key macronutrient in New Zealand farming—is applied to land in large quantities to achieve desired yields of crops and pastures. However, much of it becomes ‘locked’ in the soil and unavailable to plants, meaning still more must be applied. The environment suffers from these high levels of phosphate,

20

as much of it is lost to waterways through erosion and flooding. ‘Unlocking’ soil phosphate has the potential to save the agricultural sector billions of dollars, and mitigate the negative environmental effects.

Genevieve hopes this project will lead to a future within the agriculture industry, where she hopes to share information and solve soil health problems that the industry faces.

As winner of the inaugural GAIA (Green Agriculture Innovation Awards) youth award in 2014, Genevieve is concerned by the effects of conventional farming practices, where use of chemical products negatively impacts the environment and food quality.

She notes the increasing demand for high-quality produce has grown with minimal synthetic fertiliser, herbicide and pesticide inputs. Genevieve is committed to seeking solutions using the concept of ‘biological farming’. That concept focuses on minimising synthetic inputs into farming systems while using alternative products and management strategies to maintain and maximize outputs.

UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY POSTGRADUATE

Philippa ConnellA career in New Zealand-Chinese relations beckons for Philippa Connell of Richmond, Christchurch, who is currently completing a Master of Science in applied psychology (industrial organisational).

The two-year course of study looks at how actions at management level impact employees on an individual and personal level. The first year was coursework on topics including change management, selection and recruitment. This year she is completing a dissertation and research on Attention Restoration Theory and how it can improve employee wellbeing and concentration, through improved self-control.

The degree’s combination of psychology and economics supports Pip’s plans to be a business

21

consultant assisting New Zealand businesses that seek to tap into Chinese markets. She finds the differences between New Zealand and Chinese business practices fascinating, and would like to help Kiwi entrepreneurs bridge this gap.

Pip’s interest in this field was sparked in 2013 while on the University of Canterbury’s Management 228 Chinese Business Practices and Culture study tour to Hangzhou and Shanghai. She went on to lead this study tour in 2014 and 2015, has taken up extra-mural study of oral and written Chinese, and travelled to other parts of China, including the poorer provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan, where she has worked as a volunteer English teacher.

Alongside her academic studies and travels, Pip helps lead the Canterbury Wildcats women’s basketball team, and is keenly involved in basketball locally. She coaches senior basketball at Linwood College and is active in the North Canterbury ‘Basketball in Schools’ programme.

UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY

Natalie LooyerExamining the origins of Western civilisation and using critical thinking to apply the learnings to today’s society is Natalie Looyer’s passion, as the Avonhead scholar studies towards a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Classics and English.

Natalie’s interests in Greek philosophy, epic poetry and ancient sport have directed her towards an Honours research project looking at sport and athletics in ancient Greece. She hopes to draw links between the sense of New Zealand cultural nationalism and that of the ancient Greeks, through the popularity of sporting idols and war heroes. She also wishes to explore the ideals of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, exploring his concepts of Olympism and the modern Olympic movement, and comparing them with the Greeks’ ideas about sport.

22

Natalie’s sporting interests are not solely intellectual. She is a rock climber and active member of the Canterbury University Climbing Club, and a volunteer event referee and coach with Special Olympics New Zealand. She also works part time as a bicycle tour guide in Christchurch’s central city.

Natalie is heavily involved in the University of Canterbury student community as a student mentor, offering support to help new students transition successfully to student life. She is also the 2015 president of the student-led Classics Association, organising and participating in many events and activities.

Her future plans are to study towards a Master’s degree and pursue postgraduate studies overseas. Longer term, Natalie wishes to have a career in teaching in New Zealand, at secondary or tertiary level.


Kendra RoddisWitnessing the devastating effects of natural disaster, poverty and human trafficking has led Kendra Roddis of Bryndwr, Christchurch to study for a career in development.

She completed a Bachelor of Arts last year, with a double major in political science and Spanish, and is now gaining an Honours degree in diplomacy and international relations, furthering her understanding in the fields of human rights and development.

Between commencing those studies, and after graduating from Marlborough Girls’ College, Kendra served in the Royal New Zealand Navy for four years, as a Navigation and Warfare officer. The role entailed being delegated charge of the warship and its crew of up to 200 personnel.

While Kendra was on a one-year study exchange with the Royal Canadian Navy, the ship she served on was one of the first deployed to Haiti in January 2010, after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck, killing more than 300,000 people. She participated in aid efforts and

23

disaster relief, including clearing rubble and building orphanages.

Her desire to help others was tested and strengthened during this time, by experiencing the good, bad and horrible in one of the poorest countries in the world.

After leaving the military, Kendra interned within a non-governmental organisation in eastern Europe. She spent months visiting and assisting orphanages, human-trafficking safe houses and slum outreach projects in Romania and Moldova. These experiences helped fuel Kendra’s desire to help those in need, and motivated her to undertake tertiary study to enable a career in humanitarian and community development.


Aaron StockdillThe exciting and endless possibilities of the emerging field of Artificial Intelligence beckon student Aaron Stockdill of Aidanfield, Christchurch who is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Science with Honours in computer science.

Aaron works as a computer science tutor at the University of Canterbury and as a mathematics tutor for high school students, specialising in algebra and calculus. At Cashmere High School, which he himself attended not so long ago, Aaron assists their top Scholarship Calculus students to tackle problems far above the usual high school calculus level. He is also a co-founder of Potato Softworks, a thriving web design company, where he is the firm’s lead front-end developer and primary web designer.

Aaron is closely involved in the University of Canterbury’s Computer Society and Mathematics Society, both as an executive committee member of the latter, and as a participant of both societies’ events and tutorials.

Already a recipient of several New Zealand scholarships, in late 2015 Aaron was awarded a summer research scholarship at Australian National University

24

in Canberra. His research project focused on a subsection of Universal Artificial Intelligence, exploring artificial intelligence and randomness.

Following completion of his Honours year, Aaron plans to embark on further studies abroad, including a PhD. He looks forward to participating in lab research projects that will further advance the exciting possibilities of Artificial Intelligence. He is also looking to teach, which will help him share his knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, this topic.

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO POSTGRADUATE

Shannon TumataroaA passion for social and economic development inspires Shannon Tumataroa in her research towards a PhD in Psychology with the University of Otago. Studying the effects of financial hardship on cognitive control in low-income households, Sharon moved from Southland to Auckland to conduct her research. “Understanding how people make financial decisions is vital to ensuring economic equality and fair access to financial tools such as micro-loans, insurance and saving accounts,” says Shannon.

With degrees in both psychology and commerce, Shannon has already put her skills to good use as a volunteer budget advisor and treasurer for community-based budget advisory services. She plays a key coordination role as district representative for the NZ Federation of Family Budgeting Services Norwest Auckland District’s eight community budgeting services.

Shannon is currently in her second year of research, having completed three laboratory studies, and preparing for two major longitudinal field studies over the next 18 months. The aim of her research is to discover how to support better decision making in low-income households, and develop resilience to the often exploitative marketing that targets these households.

In due course she hopes to work for a non-government organization or similar social enterprise, empowering

25

people financially. Longer term, she aims to work for the United Nations in economic and social development, supporting initiatives in developing countries.

In addition to providing budget advisory services, Shannon has also been team support for the Special Olympics Summer Games, held in Dunedin in 2014. She has also been a youth mentor for Police initiative ‘Operation New Direction’, helping to get young lives back on track.

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

Anna Charles-JonesThis is a busy year for Anna Charles-Jones of Blenheim, as she completes her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery as a trainee intern at Dunedin Hospital. As part of her internship she will serve a three-month elective in the remote Orkney Islands, north of Scotland, to pursue her passion for rural medicine by observing the systems that govern the delivery of medical care in rural Scotland.

Last year Anna participated in the year-long Rural Medical Immersion Programme for fifth-year medical students. Guided and mentored by a range of health professionals working in rural locations, Anna’s involvement in the programme fueled her drive for a career in rural medicine.

Innovation and problem solving are needed when resources are scarce, as is often the case in rural areas, and Anna finds these challenges stimulating. Her future career plans include serving the health needs of rural New Zealand communities and being actively involved in medical education.

In addition to her medical studies, Anna has been heavily involved in a student-run organisation called Ignite Consultants, in which students from all disciplines provide free business consulting for not-for-profit organisations around Dunedin. She has learnt a lot about the social challenges facing the community, and now serves as a member of Ignite Trust’s board.

26

Anna also co-founded a charitable organisation called Choose Kids, to support vulnerable New Zealand children through advocacy and research. She also provides hands-on help by cooking meals to distribute to local families in need.

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

Conrad GoodhewA keen rugby player since the age of four, and junior regional representative of several sports, Conrad Goodhew of Kauri, Whangarei has firsthand experience of the physical challenges facing today’s athletes. His sporting interests soon led him to study sport business and science, with a focus on nutrition and physical training.

Having completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in sport and exercise nutrition, Conrad seeks to pursue his goal of becoming a sports dietitian by completing the Master of Dietetics degree at the University of Otago.

Following his move to Otago in 2013, Conrad has become a player, coach, committee member, and assistant club captain at the Otago University Rugby Football Club. He has also brought his nutritional expertise to the club. He cooks healthy meals for sale at the clubroom, and caters the dinner served at the club’s annual prizegiving. In doing so, he feels that he is demonstrating that healthy food can also be tasty and affordable.

Conrad is keen to empower people. He created an internship programme for students at Otago Boys’ High School, to educate them about sports nutrition, as teens can easily be misled by personal trainers and health supplement advertisements. Likewise, he has had success with tailoring diets for sportspeople, creating detailed personalised plans for their nutrition and training regimes.

Ultimately Conrad hopes to work as the Sport Dietitian for a top New Zealand rugby team or for High Performance Sport New Zealand, to help Kiwi athletes win on the world stage.

27

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

Dayle KeownDayle Keown,born and raised in Christchurch is currently completing the sixth and final year of his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, while based at Nelson Hospital.

Last year he participated in the Rural Medical Immersion Programme, working alongside rural GPs, midwives, and hospital staff in Balclutha. The experience provided him with a unique opportunity to learn, and an appreciation of the challenges faced by healthcare workers here in rural New Zealand.

Dayle has been a volunteer ambulance officer with St John for the past six years, working at community events and on the road. This ambulance-based work inspired him to take up a career in medicine, after having already obtained Bachelor and Masters degrees in Science, majoring in cellular and molecular biology, microbiology and genetics.

In response to a need for a convenient and accessible database of useful online study tools relevant to the medical course, he constructed, and continues to develop, www.medresource.co.nz, a free database used by medical and other health students.

In 2013 he formed a running group of medical and health students, to train for the Dunedin Half Marathon – ultimately raising $6,000 for Women’s Refuge.

Dayle enjoys teaching, having taught as a demonstrator at the University of Canterbury and University of Otago undergraduate science and health science laboratories, and as a tutor for students under the Otago University Health and Disability Service.

Dayle’s ideal career within medicine would be working in or with one of the smaller New Zealand hospitals, while also teaching and researching within clinical medicine.

28

‘Charity’ is one of the cornerstones of Freemasonry

To be concerned for those in need is an essential quality of a Freemason’s way of life.

For centuries Freemasons have given to those needing assistance. Freemasonry is the oldest fraternal organisation in New Zealand. It was first organised in England in the early 17th century (but its origins go back much further) when ‘charity’ was the term for acts of giving to those who had little.

Today Freemasons still practice this virtue and ‘charity’ is still the name we use to describe our support for the many programmes of assistance we operate in the community.

The Freemasons University Scholarships are funded by The Freemasons Charity—the body within the organisation responsible for all the assistance we provide in many different fields, both directly, and by providing a helping hand to the 230 Masonic Lodges throughout New Zealand working in their own local communities.

Traditionally, Masonic assistance has been known for its place in helping the elderly. Our involvement in the provision of retirement villages throughout New Zealand, helping to set and maintain standards for the care of our older citizens, has been the face of Freemasonry. This work continues. But as society has changed so has our benevolence diverged and education has become a spearhead.

29

For over two decades major funding has been provided for research at the University of Auckland for gerontology, brain disease and a Freemasons Chair of Neurosurgery; and at the University of Otago for paediatric research.

The Freemasons University Scholarships have been in existence for many years, starting in a humble way 38 years ago but now grown in size and stature to represent a significant boost to students’ academic or worldly progress into their careers. They are highly valued and vigorously competed for at all Universities and the winners are invariably outstanding students and young citizens. But the unique feature that distinguishes a Freemasons scholar is not an academic one but the quality of human caring so valued by Freemasons.

So why such an emphasis on education? Because Freemasons believe that knowledge is the source of individual freedom and leads to greater understanding and tolerance which builds peace and unity among all people.

The Freemasons University Scholarship programme has been running for many years encouraging students to go on, to do even better, to learn and contribute to our society.

We also will go on, striving to reach our ideals.

Freemasons New ZealandPO Box 6439, Marion Square

Wellington 6141

2016 university scholarships - freemasons...

Documents