The Otago Peninsula Community Board has named Alexander Hattrell, 17, of Tomahawk, as its Youth Scholarship Award recipient for the 2025-26 year.
The Bayfield High School student has been chosen by Rowing New Zealand for the national U19 development team.
The squad comprises four boys and four girls as well as a coxswain, and Alexander is the only South Islander on the crew.
"It was pretty cool to get selected for that," Alexander said.
The squad will compete next month at the 2026 International Rowing Challenge in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Alexander thanked the board for the $1000 scholarship, which will help offset the $10,000 cost of training and travelling to the United States.
"So far I have raised about $2000 of that through donations and selling chocolates.
"But yeah, the total is still about $10,000 which is still a bit much for the family to be paying."
Alexander gets up most mornings at about 4.45am to train.
"Most of my life at the moment and in general has been put towards rowing."
"I find it really rewarding, it is pretty fun."
He hopes to inspire others by competing at the international event and is also planning to coach at the Otago Rowing Club next season.
Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman Paul Pope said it was a very hard job to choose a recipient because all the Youth Scholarship Award applicants this year were "really, really good candidates".
"We kind of see quite bright futures for you."
