This year’s Artemis Foundation Scholarship has gone to two recipients; teaching student Lauren Dexter and environmental planning student Penny Wallis.
The Artemis Scholarship was set up in 2018 by University of Waikato alumnus Victor Li. The needs-based scholarship was established to encourage students interested in education, business or environmental sustainability and to ease the financial hardship students can face with university study. Each recipient was chosen based on their high grades and their commitment to their chosen fields.
Lauren is entering her final year of a Bachelor of Teaching. “I have always loved being around children and I want to be able to make a difference in their lives especially from the beginning,” she says.
Lauren’s commitment to education is evident in her placements and place of work. Outside of studying, Lauren has immersed herself in the education of young children, taking on roles in before and after-school care.
“Throughout my degree I have been able to complete two practicums and each time I see my whole attitude change and feel that passion for teaching spark up again.”
Lauren says she is grateful to receive the scholarship as it will help reduce the financial pressure that comes with studying and allow her to enjoy the final year of her degree.
The second recipient, Penny, is entering her third year of a Bachelor of Environmental Planning. “In high school Christina Hannah, who is one of my current lecturers, came in and talked about planning. It opened my eyes and made me think I might actually like planning.”
After initially enrolling in a Bachelor of Social Science, Penny switched degrees after realising the importance planning has on the environment and sustaining it for future generations.
Penny has big plans for her future, hoping to open her own planning consultancy firm that has a particular focus on creating spaces that harmoniously integrates all cultures, particularly Māori. “Taking a Māori stance on sustainability is vital to understanding the innate and intricate connection between tangata (people) and te taiao (the environment).”
Artemis Scholarship founder, Victor Li, says he is pleased to offer two scholarships to the deserving recipients this year.
“Lauren and Penny stood out because of their perseverance to continue studying through hard times while still managing to achieve high grades and demonstrating a commitment to education and the environment.”
As scholarship recipients, Lauren and Penny will also receive mentoring from the Artemis Foundation.
