Scholarships have been awarded to 62 athletes, coaches, umpires and support teams from Otago and around the country.
The scholarship programme pays fees of up to $10,000 a year and a living allowance of up to $4000 a year for each recipient.
Around 20 athletes gathered at the Hutton Theatre last night to receive their awards, many of them promising young athletes.
Scholarship recipient Hannah Newbould said it was hard to put into words what the scholarship meant to her.
"It's about support - it's great to have support," she said.
The 19-year-old distance runner, originally from Christchurch, has had a year of personal bests, recording 4:14.54 in the 1500m at the Victoria Track Classic and 9:15.68 in the 3000m at the world junior athletic championships in Canada last month.
She slashed just under nine seconds off her 3000m time and five seconds off her previous best 1500m time.
Newbould said doing well in Canada motivated her to get stuck into her training.
She is now in her first year of a bachelor of science degree at the University of Otago.
"It's full on but a great experience," she said.
Balancing her study and training was made easier by the support given by the academy and the scholarship, she said.
Study did not always take priority, although she tried to keep it 50/50.
"Training usually comes first."
The scholarships are managed by Sport and Recreation New Zealand and administered by the Academy of Sport.
"It's not just financial help but the whole package that comes with it [the scholarship]," Newbould said.
She is already eyeing up the 2011 Uni Games as her next event.
- Nick Rees
