Growing the future: scholarship evening celebrates emerging agriculture talent

Building on last year’s update to the Applied Programme Scholarship Awards, which included first-year students for the first time, additional scholarships were granted to incoming students again this year.

The scholarship initiative, provided through schools in Aotearoa New Zealand, aims to encourage students to pursue careers in agriculture and horticulture. It provides financial support for their studies and serves as motivation to explore the diverse and rewarding career opportunities available within the agricultural industry.

College of Sciences Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Ray Geor opened the evening by highlighting that the scholarships represent not just individual achievements, but a commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders and innovators in these vital fields.

“Our students are our raison d’etre – the reason we as teachers and academics are all here. We want to nurture, inspire and support the next generation of primary industry leaders here at Massey. As the country’s number one university for agriculture, we’re committed to our role in capability building; to supply not only the workforce but the managers, leaders and great thinkers of tomorrow. The primary sector is critical to our nation’s economic success and needs Massey’s support.

“With nearly 100 years of agricultural history and graduates, we continue to teach our agricultural educational courses with the same principles of excellence and industry connection that have defined us since 1927. These scholarships will make a difference to each individual student’s journey with us and shows Massey’s support in an economically challenging environment. I hope they alleviate some financial pressure, allowing our students to focus on their education and start their careers in Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading industry.”

The evening saw the presentation of 19 first-year agriculture and horticulture scholarships, alongside eight first-year Bachelor of Agribusiness scholarships. The Sydney Campbell Foundation, established under the will of Mr Sydney Campbell who owned the Wairarapa sheep and beef farm Riverside Farm, provided four undergraduate scholarships worth $2,500 each, as well as an additional three first-year undergraduate scholarships of the same value.

Overall, 105 scholarships were awarded, including 34 postgraduate scholarships to 25 postgraduate students and 71 undergraduate scholarships to 58 undergraduate students.

The evening featured a range of scholarships sponsored by industry leaders, with representatives attending to present their awards. Sponsors included PGG Wrightson for the Fruitfed Supplies Horticulture Scholarshipworth $5000, AsureQuality for the AsureQuality Seed Technology Scholarship and the Rongotea Lions Club for the Rongotea Lions Club Student Assistance Award. The family of Charles W R Smith were also present to award the Charles W R Smith Memorial Scholarship, valued at $5000, created in Mr Smith’s memory after his lifetime of farming near Whanganui.

Other sponsors included the George Mason Charitable Trust, which supported four students with scholarships of $6250 each through the George Mason Sustainable Land Use Scholarship, and Mercury New Zealand, which provided the Mercury NZ Renewable Energy Research Bursary to two students, each valued at $5500.