2005
Winners
Update on the 2005 Award Winners
In 2005, scholarships were awarded to Benjamin Drake and Matthew Hawkins. Both students excelled at secondary school and were chosen from among 18 applicants from all over the country for their academic records, their motivation to become professional engineers, and their communication skills.
Update on Matthew Hawkins
Matthew gained direct entry to the first professional year of his degree at the University of Auckland on the basis of his high school grades. He should complete his degree in mechanical engineering in three years instead of the usual four, and has achieved an A- grade average so far.
As part of his studies, Matthew has completed over 500 practical workshop hours at Wallace Heron Limited in Pukekohe to get a wide range of experience in manufacturing processes.
A highlight of Matthew’s study has been his group’s second placing in an engineering design competition where the challenge was to design a rubber band-powered car that could race four metres in the fastest possible time. Another enjoyable project was developing a computer game called Gold Rush. Matthew says that learning CAD software has probably been his favourite element of the course so far.
This year, papers Matthew is studying include mechanical design; mechanics of materials; mathematical modelling 2; and machines and mechanisms. He has also joined the university formula SAE racing team and is learning about composites manufacturing as a part of “team chassis/aerodynamics”.
Update on Benjamin Drake
Benjamin was also offered direct entry to the first professional year at the University of Canterbury. Instead, he chose to enrol in a modified intermediate year with exemptions from some of the compulsory papers so he could take papers in interest areas such as psychology. During his intermediate year he obtained a grade point average of 8.6 out of 9 (an A average).
In 2006 Benjamin began his first professional year in civil engineering, studying papers that include design; transport; surveying and GIS; geotechnical engineering; environmental engineering; and mathematical modelling and structures. He has thoroughly enjoyed these papers – geotechnical engineering in particular – and found them much more applied and interesting than the general papers included in the engineering intermediate year.
He is also making the most of life outside study. He returned to his hall of residence, College House, for a second year in 2006 and was awarded a student leadership position. This has complemented the University of Canterbury Emerging Leaders’ Scholarship he received in 2005 for academic achievement, leadership potential and sporting/cultural involvement. Benjamin also plays soccer for the university and competitive tennis.
