Tabitha Hildyard, who attended Dunstan High School, and Lily Ashe, who attended Mount Aspiring College, are two of 16 recipients across New Zealand who will benefit from the Milford Foundation’s tertiary scholarship programme.
The wraparound programme provides financial assistance and career development opportunities for school leavers who hope to attend university.
They receive a flexible support package of up to $10,000 per year for the duration of their undergraduate studies.
Ms Hildyard said she was thrilled and grateful to be selected for the scholarship.
"It’ll be a massive help for me."
She will undertake a bachelor of health sciences and hopes to enter the Faculty of Dentistry.
She said she had always been interested in the sciences and had worked part time at Central Dental during her gap year last year.
"I love helping people and I do like being hands on and involved in the sciences."
After completing a dental degree, she would like to return to Central Dental, Ms Hildyard said.
"I’d love to come back to Central [Otago] and ... give back to those who have helped me."
Ms Ashe, who has enrolled in a bachelor of science degree, said her dream was to make a difference to sustainable food development in New Zealand.
"When I received the call that I was successful, the reality kicked in that my dream to attend university was actually coming true," Ms Ashe said.
"I’m relieved and grateful and looking forward to the challenges university will bring."
Milford Foundation chief executive Bryce Marsden said the successful applicants had worked hard to achieve top grades at high school.
The foundation had committed $300,000 to its 2024 tertiary scholarship programme, supporting 16 first-year and 14 second-year students.
