1 December 2000 Lincoln's Sports Scholarship Programme a winner

Lincoln University kicked off New Zealand's first University Sports Scholarship programme in February 1999 with an intake of 60 scholars from throughout the country – 30 in rugby, 15 in cricket and 15 in netball.

The impact and success of the programme saw a fourth code – hockey – added at the start of this year when 62 more scholars started their studies at the University.

The programme has brought top sports performers to Canterbury where they combine academic study with the extension and development of their athletic and sporting prowess.

Academic success is an essential part of the programme for the scholars and they must pass their university papers in order to retain their scholarships, which cover full tuition fees. They must also maintain agreed sporting standards.

The Scholarship Programme is open to school-leavers who have demonstrated both high academic and sporting levels of achievement.

Of this year's intake, 24 of the scholars came from rugby, 15 from netball, 13 from cricket and 10 from hockey. Forty were male, 22 female, with women scholars in all of the four codes.

On the academic side the majority have been studying for Commerce and Commerce and Management degrees. Over 20 have been doing Lincoln's Recreation Management programme with a sprinkling of enrolments in Science, Landscape Architecture and Agriculture.

All four groups of scholars and the scholarship programme in general is well supported by the respective Canterbury sporting organisations – Canterbury Cricket Association, Canterbury Hockey Association, Canterbury Netball, and Canterbury Rugby Union.

"The investment made by Lincoln University to introduce the scheme has definitely reaped rewards for the students, the sporting organisations that support them and the community in general," says Lincoln University's Vice-Chancellor Dr Frank Wood.

"The 1999 Sports Scholars achieved an academic pass rate higher than the overall average for first year students at Lincoln and all made considerable progress with their sporting development.

"Several of the Scholars achieved national honours in their sports and all met the performance targets set for them by the sporting bodies.

"A real thrill has been to see Rugby Scholar Ben Blair selected for the New Zealand A side to tour overseas, after an outstanding season at provincial level. And of course among the Cricket Scholars we had Kate Pulford in the New Zealand Women's Team playing in Australia earlier this year and against England in New Zealand."

The Manager of Lincoln University's Sports Scholarship programme, Geoff Ormandy, believes that the model developed by Lincoln in consultation with the sporting codes is especially appropriate at a time when many young people have difficulty balancing their sporting and academic commitments.

"The success of the scheme in the two years it has been running and the interest it has generated show that it is meeting a demand," says Mr Ormandy. "The scheme has also shown that a structured and managed involvement in both sport and academic programmes enhances both areas of activity.

"Not everyone can succeed in sport alone, and even if they are successful their competitive years must eventually come to an end. 'Life after sport' needs to be planned for and a university degree or diploma provides a valuable basis for that forward career planning."

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