St Hilda's Collegiate scholarship winners (from left)
Harriett Adams (18), Katya Curran (17) and Frances Fulton
(18) smile at their success yesterday. Photo by Craig
Baxter.
New doors have opened for three St Hilda's Collegiate
pupils after being awarded prestigious tertiary scholarships.
Katya Curran, Harriett Adams and Frances Fulton have each
been awarded the University of Auckland Scholarship, valued
at $50,000, to study at the institution.
St Hilda's Collegiate principal Melissa Bell said they were
the only pupils in the Otago and Southland region to receive
this scholarship.
Ms Bell said the pupils had previously received scholarships,
but not on the scale of this one.
The amount of money awarded made it "very significant", she
said.
The University of Auckland Council received more than 1000
applications and with only 100 awards on offer, the girls
thought they did not stand a chance.
"I didn't think I would get it at all so I wasn't even going
to apply," Harriett said.
Frances, who plans to study engineering next year, said
getting the scholarship might show others there were wider
options regarding which university they chose.
The scholarship will pay for three years of tuition at
Auckland University and will include an extra $5000 and two
flights home a year. The girls credited their teachers with
getting them to where they are now.
"The school has been very supportive," Katya said.
She plans to study law next year, while Harriett will pursue
art history and music.
Ms Bell was delighted for her pupils, who she said had shown
leadership and diligence.
"They are stunning young girls who are going to give a lot
back.
"We are very excited for them."
The girls said they were both enthusiastic and nervous about
the prospect of living in "the big city".
- Siwan Gwynne
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