Pakuranga College Year 13 student, Amy Grinsted, has been awarded a prestigious scholarship for the First Foundation, which will offer her mentoring, work experience, and financial help for her tertiary studies.
She is one of two students from East Auckland schools to be awarded a First Foundation scholarship in 2024, after a highly competitive application and interview process that saw just 85 recipients selected from over 800 applicants nationwide.
Amy interviewed with a scholarship selection panel three times over an intensive nine-month application process, after finding out about the scholarship from the Pakuranga College Careers Department.
“I hadn’t heard of the scholarship until the Careers Department posted about it. But once I discovered it, I knew I wanted it. The applications started in March last year, so it’s been quite a process to get here.”
The effort was worth it though, with Amy being awarded a Dick and Diana Hubbard Foundation scholarship through First Foundation in December.
Worth $12,000, she will also receive four weeks of paid relevant work experience and a personal mentor throughout her studies, a powerful asset for any student.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be given such an opportunity. I’m really excited for university next year, knowing that I’ve got such amazing support through the First Foundation.”
Amy plans to study for a Bachelor of Law at the University of Auckland, as she has a passion for justice. Congratulations, Amy, on your amazing achievement.
