Local rangitahi secure TLC scholarships
27 September 2024
Four local students will begin tertiary training next year with financial support from The Lines Company (TLC).
Taumarunui High School head students Alex Reid and Leland Seymour have both secured an Inspiring Local Minds scholarship from TLC. Alex will complete a two-year New Zealand Diploma in Construction at Wintec in Hamilton. Leland (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Maniapoto) will also study in Hamilton, beginning a four-year Bachelor of Laws at Waikato University.
They are joined by Grace Lovell (Waitara High School) who will be studying a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Christchurch, and Nevaeh Scott (Te Awamutu College) who next year will begin a Bachelor of Business Management degree from Massey University.
TLC’s chief executive Mike Fox said the company usually only awarded three scholarships per year but felt compelled to make an exception this year, given the quality of applicants. It meant double success for Taumarunui High School.
“Both Alex and Leland are really impressive young people – a great testament to their families, their community and their school,” he said.
“We really felt both of them deserved financial support to help them with their studies so we’ve mixed it up a bit this year and supported four students, instead of three.”
In her application, Tongaporutu local Grace Lovell said watching construction at the northern end of the Awakino Gorge inspired her interest in civil engineering. Grace topped her school in six subjects last year, worked a part-time job and still managed to play soccer and bass guitar.
As well as attending school, coaching and playing netball, Ōtorohanga’s Nevaeh Scott (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāi Te Rangi) has also been involved with the New Zealand Army Cadets Forces. She hopes her business studies will help set her up for success in the tourism industry and beyond.
TLC launched the Inspiring Local Minds Scholarship in 2018 and has already supported 26 local rangitahi. Amounts vary, but applicants can receive up to $2,000 per annum for three years for a wide range of study applicable to TLC jobs. All applicants must live on the TLC network.
This year, 18 young people applied with applications assessed by Mike Fox, TLC’s customer and community engagement manager Anne Terry and Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust (WESCT) chair, William Oliver.
William said all applicants were hugely impressive, not only in what they had achieved to date, but what they were aiming to achieve in future.
“It really made me proud to see just how talented some of our local students are. Many of them are high achievers in a whole range of areas, not just academically. The TLC scholarships are a fantastic way of supporting our own and making sure we help set our kids up for a great future.”