11 May 2001 Kakanui student among first NZ dairying scholarship winners

Lincoln University agricultural science honours student Mark Ludemann from Kakanui joined eight other undergraduates today (11.5.01) in receiving the first of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Scholarships for studies in dairying and related areas.

The scholarships were presented at Lincoln University by Dr Rob Pringle of Hamilton, CEO of the dairy industry's centre of excellence, Dexcel Ltd.

Earlier this year the Dairy Board announced the establishment of an academic scholarship programme to support education within the flourishing dairy industry. Fifteen scholarships are being awarded this year - nine to Lincoln students and six to students at Massey University.

Mark, the son of Alison and Neville Ludemann who farm at Kakanui, is a fourth year B.Agr.Sc.(Hons) student at Lincoln.

The other scholarship winners at Lincoln are Gary Breen, Elliot Scott and John McPhail all of Southland, Guy Metcalf of Geraldine,  Annabel Macartney of Tai Tapu, Christchurch, Amy Lucas of Masterton, Gregory Petersen of Otaki and Christopher Will of Palmerston North.

The 15 Lincoln and Massey winners were selected from 55 candidates for the awards.

The   scholarships apply to bachelors degrees with dairying related.

"The students  awarded the scholarships today will have an opportunity to work in New Zealand's largest single industry and contribute to an activity that is leading the export growth of the New Zealand economy."

Dexcel, the dairy industry's centre of excellence headed by Dr Pringle, exists to coordinate and promote dairy research, extension and education to help the industry achieve, in a sustainable way, its target of a 4 percent increase in productivity per annum.

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