Apr 09 Applications for popular tertiary scholarships open

Apr 09

Three tertiary education scholarships, two worth $5000 and one worth $2500, are being offered again this year by the Mike Pero Mortgages Foundation, for students planning their first year of tertiary study in 2010.

“We are very pleased to announce applications for the scholarships programme, now in its fourth year, will open on 09 April and run until 27 August,” says Shaun Riley, Chief Executive
Officer at Mike Pero Mortgages.

Last year the scholarship programme again proved very popular with over 600 applications,all of an extremely high standard, from around the country.

“We are also thrilled to see previous scholarship winners are thriving at university and their results reflect this. It has been wonderful to hear their stories and updates and realise the

Mike Pero Mortgages Foundation has been able to make a real contribution to the success of these outstanding young people,” says Shaun Riley.

The scholarships are open to prospective first-time tertiary students aged between 17 and 25. Any recognised programme of full-time tertiary study in New Zealand will be considered.

“We recognise the importance of tertiary education to young New Zealanders and believe it is vital in helping to prepare them to enter our increasingly knowledge-based economy,” says
Shaun Riley.

“We also recognise the cost of tertiary study, especially in today’s current climate, can be a challenge for students and their families - in some cases it may even be the reason
someone does not attend university or polytech.

“The Mike Pero Mortgages Foundation scholarship will help remove this barrier for at least three talented young students and is another way Mike Pero Mortgages is helping the
communities it works in,” concludes Shaun Riley.

Applications

Applications for the 2010 Mike Pero Mortgages Foundation Scholarship Programme are open from Thursday April 9 at 6pm until Thursday August 27, 2009. Application forms will
be available online at www.mikepero.co.nz. The successful recipients will be announced in November.
For more information contact:
Natalie Harding
Marketing Manager
Mike Pero Mortgages
(03) 365-4547

UPDATE ON 2008 WINNERS

Alicia Gleeson from Opotiki College in the Bay of Plenty, was named the overall winner and was awarded a $5000 tertiary scholarship, which she has put towards a Bachelor of
Commerce at Otago University. She is double majoring in Accounting and Law. Alicia is living in Arana College Halls of Residence in Dunedin, which she is loving. “It’s such
an amazing place to live - it’s just like living in a hotel,” she says. “I’ve settled in easily down in Dunedin and it really does feel like home, even though I’m a very long way from home.”
She says her studies are certainly keeping her busy. “I’ve just done three assignments which were all due on the same day. But I do find the work very stimulating and it’s given
me a whole new perspective on life.” Alicia used her scholarship to pay for accommodation at Arana College. “This has taken the
stress out of life for me, knowing that my board is taken care of for the year so I can just focus on my work.”

She definitely recommends applying for the Mike Pero Mortgages scholarships. “Receiving this scholarship has really made my life at university so much easier. It takes the stress out
of my everyday living and allows me to concentrate on what I’m here to do - study!”

Kiri Diack from Aurora College in Invercargill, was the recipient of a $2500 scholarship, which she has put towards a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at Otago University.
Kiri is living at St Margarets College Halls of Residence at Otago University. She says it’s situated right in the middle of the campus, so is very handy to everything. “It’s just ideal for
me. I’m absolutely loving it here and I’m also a first year representative on the Student Executive.”

Kiri says the workload for Health Science is huge. “I’ve been warned by a number of people that this first year is very important if you’re serious about getting into medicine. I really have
to keep on top of the work as you just can’t afford to get behind.” She put her Mike Pero Mortgages scholarship towards her fees, which has helped relieve
the financial burden. “When people find out I received one of these scholarships they are shocked because it’s a national scholarship and the competition for them is tough. That
reaction actually makes me feel very proud.”

Beaumyn Wihongi from Northland College in Kaikohe also received a $2500 scholarship. He has put this towards a Bachelor of Maori and Pacific Development, majoring in Te Reo,
at Waikato University. Beaumyn is already doing very well at Waikato University. He has completed a number of assignments and the results speak for themselves. “I’m actually getting top marks in my assignments. I’m not bragging or anything, but I’m doing quite well. Mum and Dad are
really very proud of me.” He says the Mike Pero Mortgages scholarship has gone towards his fees - without it, he would have struggled to go to university. “It was really important for me to get rid of those
fees so I could concentrate on my study. I applied for eight scholarships and was successful with two of them. University is very expensive and every little bit of extra money certainly
helps. I’m extremely grateful to Mike Pero Mortgages for helping me achieve my goal of attending university.”
Beaumyn says he has made a lot of new friends in Hamilton and is enjoying university life. “It has made me more determined than ever to follow my dream of becoming a secondary
school teacher.”