Svend Tolson (right), of Dunedin, receives his $10,000
Freemasons scholarship from the Duke of Gloucester in the
Wellington Town Hall recently. Photo supplied.
Dunedin Centre manager Svend Tolson was delighted to
receive a $10,000 Freemasons scholarship to help him pursue
part-time study towards a University of Otago doctorate in
marketing.
German born Mr Tolson (43) said the funding provided a
"fantastic opportunity" to further his studies at Otago,
which was a "great university".
He recently lived in West Yorkshire, England, for more than
10 years, gaining an MSc in international hospitality and
tourism management at Sheffield Hallam University.
About two and a-half years ago, he moved to Dunedin, where he
lives with his wife Julie and 2-year-old daughter Leisel.
His doctorate will focus on aspects of economic analysis, and
he will conduct a variety of economic impact assessments
using different techniques, aiming to help establish good
practice, benchmarking and a code of conduct.
He is one of six Otago University students and among 35
students from throughout the country who have received
university scholarships from Freemasons New Zealand this
year, totalling $250,000.
The scholarships were formally awarded at a recent ceremony
at the Wellington Town Hall.
Another Otago University PhD student, Dr Matthew Shaw (47), a
British-trained general practitioner who now lives in
Wellington, was "very pleased and very grateful" to also
receive a $10,000 postgraduate scholarship, to support his
studies.
For seven years, Dr Shaw worked in the Gambia, West Africa,
on a community project aimed at changing social norms and
preventing HIV, and which much reduced domestic violence
among participating communities.
He is working part-time on his doctorate, which focuses on
his Gambian work, and which could have potential applications
for some New Zealand community development work.
Otago students receiving $6000 undergraduate scholarships
are: Olivia Faull, who is working towards a bachelor of
physical education majoring in sports science and a BSc
majoring in neuroscience, and who wishes to work with high
performance athletes; Julien Van Mellaerts, studying for a
bachelor of music with honours, having recently completed a
BA in French, and who plans to become a professional opera
singer; Gareth Benic, a final-year bachelor of dental surgery
student, who is one of six Otago dental students who will
soon travel to the Cook Islands to provide free dental care;
Anthony Wicks, who is in the final year of an LLB (hons)
degree and a BA (hons) in French, and is undertaking further
university French study in Paris.
- john.gibb@odt.co.nz
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