We are proud to announce that Olivia Ryder and Billie-Jean James have been selected as the 2023 recipients of the Cliff Perrett Memorial Fund Scholarship gifted through Taranaki Foundation.

The annual scholarship, valued at $2000, is open to two nursing students who are studying at WITT Te Pūkenga to help them meet their education and training costs.

Olivia, a third-year nursing student, says she is the first in her family to undertake tertiary study and receiving the scholarship means less financial stress.

“I applied for this scholarship to overcome financial barriers and to achieve my academic aspirations, hoping to make a positive impact in my career. In future I hope to become a compassionate registered nurse, helping people and their families get through a vulnerable time of their lives.”

Billie-Jean, a former student of Hāwera High School is currently in her first year of a nursing degree.

She relocated from Hāwera to pursue her return to studies in 2020 and says she is appreciative for the financial help the scholarship provides.

“It is very humbling to receive this scholarship, especially as a solo mother of four children. The financial support as well as people believing and investing in me, is fuel to light my way to achieving this goal and then continue into further studies such as a postgraduate and then hopefully onto a master’s in nursing.”

Mark Bowden, Chair of Taranaki Foundation Distribution Committee, says the high calibre of 2023 applications made the selection process extremely difficult.

“Nurses play such an intimate and important role within our healthcare system. All the applications were very good, what really struck us was the passion the nurses all brought to their studies and the desire they have to make a difference in their community.”

He says that Taranaki Foundation are humbled the organisation is able to continue management of the Cliff Perrett memorial Fund which has assisted local students with scholarships since 2006.

“Distributing ongoing annual scholarships is an honour that we at the Foundation take very seriously. It is a great example of a lasting legacy that will continue in perpetuity, forever, under prudent management with a proven charitable giving model.”

Read more about the Cliff Perrett Memorial Trust Fund here 

Further information about Taranaki Foundation Scholarships can be found here