Hawera High School graduate Elyssa Urgino is the most recent recipient of the Ohangai Centennial Teaching Scholarship from the Winifred Knight Trust. The $1,000 Scholarship is awarded annually to a first-year teaching training student from Hawera High School.

“I applied for this scholarship as a way to alleviate a portion of the burden of loans and living costs while I study at University in a different city away from my family,” says Elyssa

Elyssa is studying for a Bachelor’s degree in both Education and Psychology at Massey University Manawatu Campus in Palmerston North.

“Once I have finished studying, I plan to get a teaching diploma in order to become a Primary school teacher. I have double-majored to open up the possibility of me moving into the field of psychology at any point in my life. I have also thought of going back to my home country, the Philippines, to teach for some years but the circumstances currently happening in our world have put that idea on hold.” She says.

In 2015 the Winifred Knight Trust was transferred to Taranaki Foundation as its first Named Endowment Fund. Read more about the Winifred Knight Trust.