The former John Paul II High School student says university wouldn鈥檛 have been a viable option without the scholarship programme, which was created to mark UC鈥檚 150th听anniversary.
鈥淩ealistically I wouldn鈥檛 be here without it,鈥 Maddy says. 鈥淔inding out I had the scholarship really set in stone for me that I was going to go to uni. Having that financial security for a four-year degree is so good.鈥
The 18-year-old鈥檚 goal is to major in sound design and work in the film industry, a dream that was hatched after watching movies every Friday night with their film-buff dad.
鈥淔ilm is my passion and I鈥檇 love to work on the practical side as part of a crew on a film set, but I also have a special place in my heart for story-driven videogames. I want to major in sound design because music is a big part of my life 鈥 I play the piano and guitar and I sing.鈥
It has been a big step moving from a Greymouth high school with fewer than 200 students to a university campus with more than 22,000 students, but Maddy says the support that鈥檚 part of the scholarship has been really helpful.
鈥淭here鈥檚 one-to-one mentoring which is a really amazing opportunity, and we have social groups that are a good way to keep in touch with the other people who have received scholarships. They鈥檙e all so driven and want to do well and achieve.鈥
Success coaching sessions, which are led by Te Kakau a M膩ui scholarships Success Coach Angus Howat, are also a favourite. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to know there鈥檚 someone there supporting you through these things and you鈥檙e not just being thrown in at the deep end.鈥
UC has created hundreds of Te Kakau a M膩ui scholarships to help boost equity and overcome barriers to tertiary education and Maddy says it鈥檚 an admirable approach.
鈥淚 really like the overarching goals of the scholarships programme and how they鈥檙e going for leadership and sustainability and looking for young people with potential. I had a rough year last year so it鈥檚 great that it鈥檚 not all about your grades in Year 13, it鈥檚 about having the motivation and the drive to make a difference that鈥檚 important.鈥
Applications for another 150 Te Kakau a M膩ui scholarships听at UC in 2024 opened on June 20 (closing August 15). They are open to students from high schools that were previously classed as decile 1 to 7 (now covered by the equity index) across Te Waipounamu the South Island.
Maddy鈥檚 advice to anyone considering applying for the scholarship is to go for it. 鈥淒on鈥檛 pass up the opportunity, even if you鈥檙e not sure if you鈥檙e going to get it, you鈥檝e still got a chance. You just need to put yourself out there.鈥
UC鈥檚 Amokapua | Assistant Vice-Chancellor Engagement, Brett Berquist says the new scholarships can change young people鈥檚 lives. 鈥淭he programme is unique because we are offering mentoring, support and career coaching to our successful scholars, in addition to covering tuition fees for an undergraduate degree.
鈥淚t is also innovative because it鈥檚 encouraging a wider group of students, particularly those facing financial barriers, to see university as a pathway towards their goals,鈥 he says.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking beyond traditional academic performance to find students with a more holistic range of skills. We鈥檙e inviting applications from young people around the South Island who want to make a difference. We want to empower them to achieve their goals.鈥
