Students win scholarships

Finn Butler.
Finn Butler.
Even if everything is determined, Finn Butler believes he can still have free will.

For now, it is a philosophy the Logan Park High School pupil is living by - or at least until he has found a career path to follow.

"I'm going with what I can do well now, and hopefully opportunity will intervene and send me down a career path."

Rosie Whiting.
Rosie Whiting.
One of those opportunities has just landed in his, and fellow Aurora Award winner Rosie Whiting's, lap.

Both won the $5000 Aurora Energy New Zealand Education and Scholarship Trust Award, which they hope will help them on their way.

Finn (18) said the scholarship was for his outstanding scholarship award for music in last year's New Zealand scholarship examinations, and his NCEA level 3 qualifications, all endorsed with excellence.

He is studying for a bachelor of music in composition and a bachelor of arts in philosophy, maths and physics at the University of Otago this year.

While Finn has not chosen a career path yet, Rosie (18) has her sights set on becoming a doctor.

The former Dunstan High School pupil won the scholarship for her unshakeable devotion to the Order of St John, where she holds the rank of sergeant - the highest rank for St John Youth Leadership.

She has also achieved the Grand Prior Award, which is equivalent to a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, for her willingness to serve others in distress.

Rosie is studying health sciences at the University of Otago and hopes to specialise in trauma surgery or paediatrics.

They were both delighted to receive the scholarship.

"It's fantastic. There were some amazing high school students in 2010 and to get this award is pretty amazing," Finn said.

The NZEST scholarship programme commenced in 2004, and 57 scholarships have been awarded since.

The scholarship programme aims to keep New Zealand's top students in the country by only awarding them to those who study at a New Zealand university.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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