More than 70 pupils applied for the scholarships. Of those, 23 were selected for interviews and the final 15 were announced at a special ceremony at the Presbyterian Church hall in Cromwell last evening.
Trustee Mike Allison, who sat on the selection panel, said he was impressed with the high calibre of young people applying for the scholarships.
Guest speaker was president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, former chancellor of the University of Otago and trustee of the Central Lakes Trust, Eion Edgar. He told the young people to find something they enjoyed doing.
"Be honest, and if engineering or whatever you are studying is not your thing, tell your parents and find an alternative that you do like, as you are there [at university] a long time and you need to be doing something you like doing."
Recipients of this year's Central Lakes Scholarships for tertiary education are: Monique Nees-Kairua, of Dunstan High School, Alexandra, who will study at Otago Polytechnic; Kathryn Darling (Ettrick), St Hildas Collegiate School, University of Canterbury; Rebecca Sinnamon (Poolburn), St Hildas, University of Otago; Emily Campbell, Dunstan High School, University of Otago; Blake Luff, Dunstan High, University of Otago; Stacey Roughan, Cromwell College, University of Otago; Nicholas Blanche, Cromwell College, Otago Polytechnic; Hayley Scurr, Mt Aspiring College, Victoria University; Lincoln Haworth, Mt Aspiring College, University of Otago; Lewis Williamson, Dunstan High, University of Otago; Benjamin Smid, Cromwell College, Otago Polytechnic; Robert Gillespie, Cromwell College, University of Canterbury; Christopher Divers, Cromwell College, University of Otago; and Jonathan Thom, Dunstan High, University of Otago.
Absent: Talia Flannery (Clyde), St Kevins College, South Pacific College of Natural Health.
