Beca rewards young UC engineers
26 September 2011
Overcoming earthquake-related disruption has led to seven engineering students from the University of Canterbury to be recognised with 2011 Beca Engineering in Society Scholarships.
Pictured (front row, from left) are Samuel Corbett-Davies, Christina Bell, Jennifer Dickson, Georgia Whitla. Standing (back row from left) are Beca Regional Manager South Island Craig Price, Cameron Belliss, Nigel Cleland, Varun Joshi, and the Dean of Engineering and Forestry at the University of Canterbury, Dr Shayne Gooch.
Overcoming earthquake-related disruption has led to seven engineering students from the University of Canterbury to be recognised with 2011 Beca Engineering in Society Scholarships.
The scholarships, from engineering consultancy Beca, recognise a student’s potential to contribute to the future of the engineering profession in New Zealand and this year’s winners join an elite group of past recipients.
Beca Regional Manager South Island Craig Price said “each student coped well in these challenging times in Canterbury and a number of them contributed to the recovery of the Christchurch community through helping in such efforts as the Student Volunteer Army clean-up and other support groups”.
“There is now also the very real opportunity for these young professionals to play a tangible role in the future redevelopment of our city, community and region or contribute to helping other cities manage and minimise the impacts of natural disasters such as we have experienced,” he said.
“The high calibre of this year’s winners shows that the future of the engineering profession is in good hands.”
The recipients in their final professional year of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree received $3000 each. They are: chemical and process engineering student Nigel Cleland from Hokowhitu, Palmerston North; civil engineering student Georgia Whitla from Avonhead, Christchurch; mechanical engineering Jennifer Dickson from Urenui, north Taranaki; and civil engineering student Varun Joshi from Paparangi, Wellington.
The recipients in their second professional year each receive $2000. They are: civil engineering student Christina Bell from Khandallah, Wellington; civil engineering student Cameron Belliss from St Albans, Christchurch; and mechatronics engineering student Samuel Corbett-Davies from Taradale, Napier.
The scholarships take into account academic results, communication skills, leadership qualities, contribution to university and community activities and the candidate’s potential to add value to the engineering profession.
UC Dean of Engineering and Forestry Dr Shayne Gooch said the students were “well-rounded individuals who will make significant contributions to the profession in the future”.
“They are not only strong academically they have impressive sports and community achievements. They are obviously enjoying their studies and they are passionate about becoming engineers.”
Dr Gooch said despite the Canterbury earthquakes, “overall our students have performed as well or better than in a normal year”.
“We are very proud of our students’ involvement in community initiatives such as the Student Volunteer Army. This year students have had a unique experience, one which will put them in good stead for their future careers,” he said.
For more information please contact:
comms@canterbury.ac.nz
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