6 October 1998 Scholarships equip students with more than an education

When Lincoln students Therese Barber, Sara Gordon, Craig Grocke and Rowan Hegglun finish their university studies they will be equipped not only with an education but with the very latest outdoor gear for tramping and other wilderness pursuits, thanks to scholarships they have just won.

The four are the latest winners of Lincoln's valuable McEwings Macpac Scholarships for students enrolled in the University's Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management programme.

Because the scholarships are linked to outdoor recreation courses they come in the form of outdoor recreation equipment provided by two Christchurch companies, Macpac Wilderness Equipment and McEwings Mountain Sports.

Backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, anoraks, fleecy jackets, and thermal underwear make up the keenly sought scholarships. Criteria for the awards include examination results, the quality of a written presentation on resource-based recreation, and a high level of involvement in outdoor activities particularly showing leadership and initiative.

The value of the individual awards is $2000 worth of equipment each and they are made to one fulltime student in each of the three undergraduate years of the degree programme and to one postgraduate student.

In providing the scholarships the two companies say they have always been keen to support higher learning within the parks and recreation/outdoor education field.

They say they regard university-level study and research as vital to the understanding and maintenance of New Zealand's wild places.

Lecturer Kay Booth of Lincoln's Human Sciences Division says the scholarship support of companies such as Macpac Wilderness Equipment and McEwings Mountain Sports gives the students an extra target to aim for as they progress through their studies. This is the third year the two companies have provided the awards and the venture has been regarded by the University as highly successful.

The winners are –

• Therese Barber, originally from Manawatu. On graduation she hopes to combine a specialisation in outdoor recreation with school teaching.

• Sara Gordon, from Nelson, and a past student of Waimea College. After graduation she plans to specialise in outdoor environmental education. She already instructs in kayaking and works with the Mountain Safety Council on bushcraft courses.

• Craig Grocke, is the postgraduate winner and is enrolled in a Master of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management degree. His research project concerns the development of private rural walkways in North Canterbury.

• Rowan Hegglun, from Blenheim, has now completed his Bachelor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism degree and is enrolled in a Master of Resource Studies degree.

The scholarships were presented to the four students at Lincoln University by Malcolm Cleugh from Macpac Wilderness Equipment and Paul McGuigan from McEwings Mountain Sports.

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