St Paul’s Collegiate School student Lara Wilson has been awarded a University of Otago Academic Excellence Scholarship valued at $45,000.
The Vice-Chancellor of Otago University, Harlene Hayne, was personally impressed by the academic prowess of Wilson who displayed impressive NCEA results and well-rounded ability in her application that were worthy of the scholarship.
Hayne said Wilson’s academic ability and her “commitment to fellow students and the wider community” as demonstrated by her role on the chapel team, a dedicated swim teacher, captain of the St Paul’s swim team and regular volunteer at Waikato Hospital.
Wilson achieved NCEA levels one and two endorsed with excellence (the highest possible endorsement) and passed NZQA Scholarship Statistics (only three percent of students who sit NZQA examinations pass).
She says receiving the scholarship was a “huge surprise” and an “awesome opportunity.”
“I have always intended on attending the University of Otago to study first year health science, so I am incredibly grateful to receive this scholarship,” Wilson said.
While undertaking first year health science Wilson plans to maintain a high enough grade point average for entrance into medicine in the following year.
