Update on the inaugural award winners

In 2004 Josephine McVittie and Blair Howarth received the first of the scholarships for professional engineering studies awarded by the IPENZ Foundation.

Update on Blair Howarth

Blair has been studying engineering at the University of Canterbury. Due to his high bursary marks he was able to miss the intermediate year, and has now just completed his first professional year in mechatronics - combining mechanical and electrical engineering, plus some computing. He achieved an A average and enjoyed a mix of topics particularly Introduction to Mechatronics where he programmed a flashing bike tail light, and designed and built a stylophone (similar to a keyboard). Both the mechanical and electrical design assignments were interesting and he looks forward to his second year which will consist of many more electrical papers.

Update on Josephine McVittie

Josie is now studying at Auckland University doing a cojoint Engineering and Arts degree. In her first semester her subjects ranged from Engineering Computing and Design to French and European History, gaining an A average. Josie has had a year of accomplishments both academically and sporting as she competed in the Auckland half marathon, and began the Young New Zealanders Challenge (Duke of Edinburgh). A highlight for her was winning the HPX award programme run at her hostel that has as its focus the achievement in sporting, academic and social and community goals. UNESCO has invited Josie as the New Zealand delegate to attend WAYS (World Academy of Young Scientists) conference in Morocco at the end of 2005 and during January she will complete a French study-abroad course in Paris for credits towards her arts degree. Josie will specialise in Engineering Science in 2006 as she enjoys the mathematical and problem-solving content of the course.

Branches Participation

These scholarships have given IPENZ Branches a very cost effective way of using their surplus funds towards the promotion of the profession. The promotion of the scholarships around all secondary schools and the careful selection of the winners are all undertaken by the Foundation.

There are a number of scholarships available.  In the 2008 Scholarship Year, IPENZ Branches are offering to co-fund three of the available scholarships: one of these will be called “The IPENZ Foundation / Taranaki Branch Scholarship” and is targeted at students from the Taranaki region; one will be called “The IPENZ Foundation / Hawkes Bay Branch Scholarship” and is targeted at students from the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne regions; and the other is targeted at students in the Nelson-Marlborough Branch region and will be called “The IPENZ Foundation / Nelson-Marlborough Branch Scholarship”. The prize money is also augmented by the Foundation.

If your Branch would like to take part in this, or a similar scheme, please contact
foundation@ipenz.org.nz.

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