UC student among New Zealand International Students of the Year
05 May 2011
University of Canterbury education doctoral student Bree Loverich has been named one of New Zealand's International Students of the Year by Education New Zealand.
Bree Loverich
University of Canterbury education doctoral student Bree Loverich has been named one of New Zealand's International Students of the Year by Education New Zealand.
The organisation ran an inaugural competition to find New Zealand's top international students from all educational sectors and Bree was named the winner of the university sector category.
She was nominated for the award by the University of Canterbury Students' Association.
Nominees were judged on their academic achievements, their participation in institutional and community activities, and how they had thrown themselves into Kiwi culture and experiences.
Bree, from the United States, has been in New Zealand for five years. She was granted direct entry to the PhD programme at UC without having to complete a master's degree.
A University of Canterbury Doctoral Scholarship recipient, Bree is researching curriculum and assessment in New Zealand's secondary education policies. She is also President of the Postgraduate Students' Association and is currently one of 43 students on exchange to Oxford University.
Education New Zealand said with her enthusiasm and dedication, Bree had turned a relatively small and inactive campus club into one with more than 500 members offering a wide range of activities, including sporting events, ski trips and social mixers, mountain biking and a tramping trip.
"Bree's main focus in the event choices is to help international students learn about Kiwi culture and explore the beauty of New Zealand's natural environment. As an outdoor enthusiast, she is not only involved with Kiwi culture, but is dedicated to getting others involved as well. Bree has gone above and beyond to make this club a success, bringing together postgraduate students from every level of postgraduate study and from every department, developing an ever increasing campus-wide and interdisciplinary postgraduate community.
"Bree's work has brought together people from a wide range of backgrounds; including international students, adult students and staff. An enthusiastic, caring and friendly person, Bree's exceptional leadership qualities, organisational skills, and most of all her endless hard work have made the University of Canterbury a better place for all postgraduate students."
The six winners from each sector will receive a trip within New Zealand with Flying Kiwi Adventure Tours and a winner's certificate.
Education New Zealand said almost 100,000 international students came to New Zealand to study each year and the six award recipients had highlighted the contribution these students made to the cities and towns in New Zealand where they studied and to their fellow students, both Kiwi and international.
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