7 October 2002 Lincoln students 'wrapped' with their awards

Four Lincoln University students are both 'rapt' and 'wrapped' with their awards. They're 'rapt' at each winning $2000 worth of clothing and equipment, and will be well 'wrapped' against the weather when they put it to use!

It's one of the University's most popular awards – the annual McEwings Mountain Sports - Macpac Wilderness Equipment Prize/Scholarship in Recreation Management.

Because the awards are linked to the University's outdoor recreation course they come in the form of outdoor recreation clothing and equipment provided by the Christchurch companies McEwings Mountain Sports and Macpac Wilderness Equipment.

McEwings Managing Director Paul McGuigan presented the four awards – one for a student from each year of the Recreation course and one to a postgraduate. The winners are Brendan Doody (1st year), Callum Findley (2nd year), Paul Reid (3rd year) and Axel Reiser (postgraduate).

Brendan, a past student of Cathedral College, plans to major in the Parks stream of the Bachelor of Recreation Management degree. Callum attended Riccarton High School and intends to major in Outdoor Leadership. Paul, a past student of Papanui High School, is doing parks, recreation and tourism management papers, and postgraduate winner Axel, from Germany, is doing a masters degree with research on the impact of skiers and ski fields on the environment.

The awards, made for academic excellence, are valued at $2000 each and comprise jackets, polyprops, fleecies and tents. The individual students choose their own selection from the companies' products.

Senior lecturer in Recreation Kay Booth, who first negotiated the awards back in 1996, thanked the two companies for their generous support of outdoor recreation education at Lincoln University. Through their backing of Lincoln's course they have contributed to outdoor leadership in New Zealand in a very constructive way, she said.

Mr McGuigan said his company was happy to continue the relationship with Lincoln University. He said he was impressed with the contribution Lincoln graduates made to outdoor-related work in New Zealand and their influence on the outdoors.

Macpac's New Zealand Sales Manager Malcolm Cleugh, who like Paul McGuigan has been associated with the awards since the start, was unable to attend this year's ceremony but sent his best wishes to the winners.

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