Three postgraduate and six undergraduate students from Christchurch, Gore, Lumsden, Waikawa (Southland), Timaru, Ngāruawāhia, Dargaville and Feilding have joined the programme, alongside nine returning scholars.
University of Canterbury undergraduate Wiseson Kuang, of Timaru (commerce majoring in international business and minoring in finance), was among those selected.
Every year, the MIA provides scholarships of $5000 per annum for undergraduates and $10,000 per annum for postgraduate students.
All are studying a subject relevant to the red meat processing industry and planning a career in the sector beyond the farm gate.
MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said that the industry needed to continue to recruit ambitious and highly skilled people to grow.
"This scholarship programme provides an important pathway for school leavers, undergraduate and graduate students into the New Zealand meat processing industry," she said.
"Every MIA scholar has the potential to become future leaders in the sector."
This year’s intake are pursuing subjects including mechanical engineering, environmental management, commerce, global management and marketing and agribusiness and food marketing.
Returning scholars include undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking master’s degrees and PhD research.
As well as financial support, MIA scholars benefit from the organisation’s mentoring programme and participation in a range of industry events and networking opportunities.
Assistance may also be provided to help them to secure vacation or part-time work in the meat processing industry.
The new MIA scholars for 2024 are: Sophie Ridd (Feilding), Kelly-Anne Bentley (Ashburton), Kelsi Hayes (Waikawa), Oliver Stark (Gore), Flynn Mitchell (Lumsden), Emily Irwin (Gore), Wiseson Kuang (Timaru), Thomas Hayward (Te Ākau, Waikato) and Angus Bradley (Dargaville).
