January 15, 2014
War effort to inspire todays students
A battlefield pilgrimage is the latest idea to promote Maori educational achievement.
The Ngarimu VC and 28th (Maori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board is branching out from its essay competition and tertiary scholarships.
Education Minister Hekia Parata says this year it is offering a revamped package to champion excellence in Māori education and leadership.
“To ensure the Māori Battalion’s legacy endures, the board is offering new and exciting ways to grow students’ understanding of the triumph and tragedy of those brave young men,” Ms Parata says.
“These include a battlefield pilgrimage, a multimedia challenge, new research and an Alumni Association for past recipients.”
In May 30 secondary school students will join a pilgrimage to battle sites in Italy, Greece and Tunisia.
A documentary will be made of the trip as seen through the students’ eyes, and the board will contribute $1000 per student to help with travel costs.
Instead of the essay competition that has run from 1948, students will be able to enter a new multimedia challenge in which they can present their research about the 28 Māori Battalion in any of the 10 categories, including as a written essay.
The research project, funded by a one-off $250,000 grant, is to document the histories of the four Maori Battalion companies.
In April the new Alumni Association will meet, giving scholarship recipients a chance to mentor those just starting out and also to receive guidance and advice from their more established and experienced fellow recipients.
This year’s doctoral scholarship winners are Inez Awatere-Walker and Dr Elana Curtis, who each receive $25,000 for one year.
Jamie Rolleston, Kristin Ross and Kawiti Waetford won $15,000 masters scholarships, while undergraduate scholarships went to Ariana Andrews, Ruahei Demant, Aperahama Hurihanganui and Moerangi Tamati. They each receive $10,000 per year for up to five years of study.
The scholarships are designed to inspire, reward and support Māori education achievement and success.
“To honour the spirit and sacrifice of the Battalion soldiers, we must ensure their legacy lives on in future generations, especially among tomorrow’s leaders,” Ms Parata says.
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