"I'm overwhelmed, happy, ecstatic about the award.''
Mr Matheson received the award for achieving the highest marks in New Zealand for his Associate Diploma in Public Speaking and Communication.
The University of Otago second-year law student gained "three honours plusses, which are the top marks you can get'', and it was believed this was the first time the Founders Scholarship had been awarded to a Dunedin student.
He said the scholarship was worth about $1300, which he would put towards the cost of sitting practical and theory exams for the licentiate diploma in public speaking and communication (teachers).
"It means a lot to me.
"It's a lot of financial stress off, not only mine but my parents' shoulders, as well.
"These exams are quite expensive.''
He has already started working on his licentiate diploma, which involves three practical exams and eight written papers.
Speech communication teacher Mary Flaherty was delighted with Mr Matheson's success.
"These awards are very hard to get.''
Mrs Flaherty said the award was a prestigious acknowledgement of Mr Matheson's excellence in a whole range of public speaking skills, including power point presentations, impromptu work, public courtesy speeches, debating skills, points of view, recommendations and mediation.
"All of those things are involved in the requirement to even sit the exam at that particular level.''
One of Mrs Flaherty's other speech students, Emma Perry, also received an award, the Speech New Zealand Scholarship for being the top grade six public speaking and communication student in the country.
The first year University of Otago arts and law student received a certificate and $200 which Speech New Zealand hoped would be put towards furthering her studies.
