Sir Wallace Rowling
Scholarships

Since 1997, the Scholarships have been awarded in memory of the late Sir Wallace Rowling, a former Trust Chairman, Tasman Energy Director and Prime Minister of New Zealand.

There are up to three Sir Wallace Rowling scholarships awarded each year. One is awarded to a student from one of the rural schools (Tapawera, Murchison, Motueka, Collingwood and Takaka), and one is awarded to a student from the urban schools (Richmond, Stoke and Nelson).

Please note that the student's permanent home address must be connected to the Network Tasman distribution system. This does not include some parts of Nelson City and if you are unsure about the boundaries of our Network, please don't hesitate to ask. These scholarships are awarded for the benefit of up to three students to continue their studies at the tertiary level.

The award will be given to a student who has displayed overall academic excellence, leadership skills through their contribution to the school and community and excellence in cultural and/or sporting fields. Consideration will also be given to their financial circumstances.

Details of the award, eligibility criteria and deadlines are emailed to the principals of the schools in October. Please note, that it is up to each school to nominate a student. Individuals can not apply themselves.

This year, there were four Sir Wallace Rowling Scholarships awarded, two receiving $3,000 each, and the other two receiving $2,000 and $1,000 each. The scholarships support students going onto tertiary education.

Congratulations to Lucy Summerfield of Motueka High School who is going on to study a Bachelor of Commercial Music (Music Practice (Professional Musician) at Massey, Samantha Harman of Waimea College who is going on to study a Bachelor of Science (Medicinal Chemistry and Chemistry) at Canterbury, Imogen Harris of Golden Bay High School who is going to study a Bachelor of Science (Double Major or Double Degree in Chemistry & Ecology) at Otago, and Ella Patchett of Nelson College for Girls who is going to study a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science & International Relations) at Otago.

This year, there were three Sir Wallace Rowling Scholarships awarded, receiving $3,000 each. The scholarships support students going onto tertiary education.

Congratulations to Manu Bourgeois of Golden Bay High School who is going on to study Civil Engineering (Engineering) at Canterbury, Flynn Mercer of Nelson College who is going on to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) at Canterbury, and Yeni Choi of Nelson College for Girls who is going to study a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics) at Canterbury.

Our congratulations to Ester Walters of Nelson College for Girls who is going on to study a Bachelor of Criminal Justice at the University of Canterbury.

Holly Rillstone of Collingwood Area School who is going on to study a Bachelor of Learning and Teaching (Primary) at the University of Canterbury.

Jack Rollinson of Waimea College who is going to study a Bachelor of Commercial Music at Massey, Wellington.

Niamh Tasker of Motueka High School who is going on to study a Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) at Victoria University.

Zanthe Rose - Golden Bay High School (Rural School Winner).
Darrylnn Simone - Garin College and Matthew Edmonds - Nayland College (Joint Urban School Winners)

Each year wonderful students present themselves for scholarships and awards with an amazing school service record, cultural or sporting talent, A-grade results and of course leadership skills. They are all anticipating huge costs as they head off from high school to further their education.

Network Charitable Trust was faced with the dilemma of finding the two who stand out amongst eight top students from local schools who are starting their tertiary studies in 2019. The Sir Wallace Rowling Scholarship offers $3000 each to two such students in the Nelson/Tasman region.

Collingwood Area School has had many previous recipients of this award and Alisha Olney was a standout candidate. Alisha has a passion for the environment and walks the talk with her zero-waste lifestyle, including following a vegan diet. She has also worked hard this year to transition her school to zero waste. Alisha will head to Otago University to study Ecology, Environmental Science and Chemistry. She hopes by doing this course, she will be able to align her own values and aspirations with helping to make a better world.

Garin College student, Maria Phillips, won the other Sir Wallace Rowling Scholarship and will head to Victoria University to study Biomedical Sciences with a special interest in Criminology and Psychology. Resilience is a good word to describe Maria's determination to do well and even made a personal decision to change to a smaller school a few years ago to back herself in reaching her dream of going to University.

Gwenny Davis, Chair of the Network Tasman Charitable Trust which awarded the scholarship says "we can expect to hear more from these leaders of the future. They have a lot on their shoulders and we are proud of them".

Each year wonderful students present themselves for scholarships and awards with an amazing school service record, cultural or sporting talent, A-grade results and of course leadership skills. Let's not also forget huge costs as they head off from high school to further their education.

Network Charitable Trust was faced with the dilemma of finding the two who stand out amongst eight top students from local schools who are starting their studies in 2018. 

The Sir Wallace Rowling Scholarship offers $3000 each to two such students in the Nelson/Tasman region.

For only the second time in the 20-year history of the Scholarship, one of these scholarships went to Murchison Area School graduate, Jemma Gibson. Jemma's goal is to become a primary school teacher but close to her heart is to volunteer in Fiji or Ethiopia and later work in the South Island. She has won many country music awards and has also led her Kapa Haka group in competitions. Jemma says "Kapa Haka has given me much more advance understanding of Maori Customs and their culture and I have enjoyed participating in Tikanga, learning Maori games and protocols". Jemma hopes to incorporate this into her teaching when she graduates.

Adam Currie was the other winner, from Garin College. Adam remembers all the books falling about his head in the library during the Christchurch earthquake. He's enjoyed the chance that the move to Nelson gave him to attend a small school and get such a lot out of it. Scouting has also had a huge impact on his life and has given him the confidence and leadership skills to take on issues of social justice and the environment which are dear to his heart - both at school and in the community. Adam will study law and will gravitate either towards the environment or human rights issues. Adam says "climate change and its many facets, including mitigation, adaption and geo-engineering will be a defining issue for my generation and I would like to be in the best position to address it".

Gwenny Davis, chair of Network Tasman Trust which awarded the scholarships days "we can expect to hear more from these leaders of the future. They have a lot on their shoulders and we are proud of them".

Students from Nelson College for Girls and Golden Bay High School, Laura Lowe and Joshua Childs have been announced as this year's winners of the Sir Wallace Rowling Scholarship.

The Network Tasman Charitable Trust each year awards a $3000 scholarship to one rural and one urban school student who is going on to further studies.

Laura Lowe from Nelson College for Girls has been Deputy Head Girl and thrived at school as a natural leader, a talented musician and umpire and a player of netball. But Laura wants to study medicine at Auckland University and in particular focus on children's health and the dangers of alcohol.

Joshua Childs will study Environmental Management at Otago University. After the 2011 floods destroyed the family home in Golden Bay, Josh took an increasing interest in environmental stories in the media. He also witnessed both poverty and environmental degradation whilst on a family holiday overseas and settled on a career with geography and the environment at its heart. Josh has embraced school life with enthusiasm while also managing to take on many leadership roles and plenty of sport. Josh impressed the selectors as a very personable young man.

Students from Motueka High School and Nelson College for Girls, Nathan Peacock and Raven Maeder have been announced as this year's winners of the Sir Wallace Rowling Scholarship.

The Network Tasman Trust each year awards a $3000 scholarship to one rural and one urban school student who is going on to further studies.

Nathan Peacock from Murchison has boarded with relatives in Motueka for many years to attend High School there and enjoyed his time a great deal. Nathan is spoken of by his teachers as a humble student, a great leader and role model and an outstanding young man. Nathan plans to study Design at Massey University for a Bachelor of Design with Honours, principally in the area of Visual Communication Design.

Raven Maeder has also embraced school life with enthusiasm while also managing to take on leadership roles in areas of social justice and the environment, both at school and in the community. Raven will study for a Bachelor in Law and in Arts majoring in Political Science and International Relations at Victoria University and has high hopes of using her skills to become a change-maker - working to bring about a fairer, more just world.