The Central Lakes Trust distributed $125,000 in total to pupils from 10 Otago secondary schools. The $2500 grant each of them received was to be used to study at a New Zealand tertiary institution next year.
''We're very pleased to have found a way to support young people build their futures,'' trust chairman Malcolm Macpherson said.
''In the years this programme has been running we've helped 334 young people, to a total amount of $801,500.''
Applicants have to be between 16 and 19 and have lived in the Central Lakes Trust region for a minimum of two years at the time of application.
The selection criteria take various factors into account, including the applicant's academic record, all-round qualities and achievements.
Guest speaker at the awards function in Cromwell was Sam Johnson, who was founder of the Student Volunteer Army following the Christchurch earthquakes and named the Young New Zealander of the Year in 2012.
Mr Johnson is an advocate and ambassador of several causes and volunteers his time to work with youth on disaster resilience and community development.
Included with this year's awards was the Meyer Engineering Scholarship, won by Tim Weir, of Mt Aspiring College. It was presented by Carl Meyer, olympian, former world rowing champion and director of Meyer Engineering Ltd.
