Māori and Pasifika scholarship recipients named

<p><strong>Kupe scholarships have been awarded to 30 Maori and Pasifika student teachers who have demonstrated excellence in their work&period;<&sol;strong> <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The prestigious scholarship is designed to attract Maori and Pasifika high achievers to the teaching profession and to support them to becoming inspiring teachers and role models in early childhood&comma; primary and secondary education&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;I&&num;8217&semi;m delighted by the outstanding calibre of scholars that the Kupe Scholarship continues to encourage into a teaching career&comma;&&num;8221&semi; says education minister Hekia Parata&period; &&num;8220&semi;The scholars that we&&num;8217&semi;re celebrating come from across the country and include a science graduate of Longwood University in Virginia&comma; a former Maori All Black and a Pasific Music Award winner&period; They have already demonstrated high academic achievement&comma; leadership and close links with their communities&comma; and this scholarship provides them with the opportunity to make a real difference for kids in the classroom&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The <a class&equals;"wpil&lowbar;keyword&lowbar;link" href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;schoolnews&period;co&period;nz&sol;2015&sol;10&sol;waikato-students-win-inaugral-kupe-scholarships&sol;" title&equals;"Kupe scholarships" data-wpil-keyword-link&equals;"linked" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank">Kupe scholarships<&sol;a> fund course fees and study allowances&comma; and offer mentoring and recruitment support after graduation&period; Each recipient also receives taonga keepsakes in the form of a stylised paddle &&num;8220&semi;hoe&&num;8221&semi; or waka&sol;vaka&sol;va&&num;8217&semi;a as a permanent recognition of their achievement&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>More than 90 applications were received for the 30 scholarships&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;