Mr Whitehead is graduating with a bachelor of science with honours in sport and exercise science from the University of Otago.
He left a lasting impact on the university by creating a scholarship for Taranaki pupils to attend Hands-On Otago, a week-long programme for pupils to experience what the university had to offer.
Mr Whitehead received a scholarship to attend the programme when he was in year 13 — at the time he had never flown on a plane or been away from his family before.
"I knew how much of the awesome opportunity it was for me, but when I applied I didn’t really think I’d have a chance of getting it.
"It was a really big stepping stone for me in terms of seeing what was out there and what potential I had."
Being one of just two Māori students at his Taranaki high school who had ambitions to attend university, he felt strongly about creating better pathways for those in situations similar to his.
Without the university scholarship he later received, he would not have been able to afford the costs of attending university.
"It’s the financial barrier that often holds students back and it probably doesn’t help not having a family member or family members who had gone to university.
"Even when I came down to Otago, it wasn’t an option for Mum and Dad to come down and help me settle in."
While studying at Otago, Mr Whitehead was involved in rugby, rugby league, mentorship programmes, volunteering and various leadership roles, and took up coaching for Columba College and Otago Girls’ High School under-18s, all while taking as many papers as he possibly could.
He also hosted a podcast called Baskets of Knowledge with almost 100 episodes.
"I really made the most of those opportunities out there rather than leaving and regretting it."
He planned to return to Dunedin next year and continue coaching.
"Once you get to uni and you have all these other distractions and interests, I wouldn’t have thought I’d end up getting back into rugby.
"But now that I have, I can see just how much passion I have for growing the game, for getting more participation, and I don’t think there’s many jobs that would be able to replicate what you get out of being a coach."
For Arvin Keith, his time at the University of Otago completely changed the relationship he had with his culture and identity.
He will be graduating with a bachelor of applied science majoring in forensic analytical sciences and hopes to use those skills to become a detective.
He had been involved in the Māori Centre throughout his time at university and now works there as a kaiwhakahaere tari (administrator).
"This place is like a second home to me.
"When I first came down here, I didn’t speak Māori, I didn’t have the reo. I grew up in a relatively Western culture."
Hearing people speak fluent te reo Māori would often make him feel "ashamed".
"It was only until I came down here with spaces like this and students that are very strong in their Māoritanga [Māori culture] that I felt a sense of imposter syndrome.
"I didn’t feel Māori enough, and this shook my confidence a little, especially coming into a space like this.
Through his involvement in the Māori Centre, he now feels confident speaking the reo and had learned more about his culture and history.
"It really did help a lot. It allowed me to accept that I am Māori and now I don’t doubt at all."
