13 August 1997 Students 'kitted out' by scholarship win

Four Lincoln University students have won ‘wearable’ scholarships thanks to a link between Christchurch businesses and academia.

The four, who are all doing or have completed degrees in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, have won back packs, sleeping bags and other outdoor equipment to the total value of $2000, courtesy of Macpac Wilderness Equipment and McEwings Mountain Sports.

The winners are - Geoff Acethorp of Wellington, Kate Ballard of Auckland, Shaun Elwood of Invercargill (now working for the Department of Conservation in Southland), and Damian Morgan originally from Australia but now of Christchurch.

This is the second year running that the two Christchurch businesses have supported Lincoln outdoor recreation students with equipment scholarships.

"We enjoy encouraging people to take advantage of the unique benefits offered by New Zealand's wild places and we're happy to support Lincoln students because university-level study and research are vital to the stewardship of our outdoor environment," says Malcolm Cleugh of Macpac Wilderness Equipment.

Lincoln lecturer Kay Booth of the Department of Human and Leisure Sciences who coordinated the link between the businesses and academia, said the ‘wearable’ scholarships will be most useful to the students in their field work and recreational pursuits.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand