11 August 2009 Southland connection with Lincoln always strong

 

 

A finance manager with Rabobank in Gore, who also farms in partnership with his parents, Richard holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) degree from Lincoln University.

 

One hundred and twenty-nine years ago, in Lincoln University's opening year, 1880, a young Edwin Croucher Kingswell of lnvercargill was the first Southlander to enrol at Lincoln University. He was student number 16 on the roll and he was aged just 16. Notes in the archives describe him as "a fairly good worker'' and "well intentioned". Whatever became of him? Who knows? What is sure is that numerous Southlanders have followed in his footsteps to Lincoln University and as the University's Recruitment Manager Jaime Bowman says: "Southland is our biggest student catchment area after Canterbury''.

 

"All the major schools in Southland are represented among the current students and the region is well identified on campus through the presence of Southland Hall, one of our six halls of residence, which was built with Southland support."

 

As a specialist, land-based university, Lincoln has always been attractive to Southland students for its agricultural courses and it is notable that the region has produced a number of national Young Farmer Contest winners over the years who have been Lincoln University graduates - men such as Warwick Catto, Robert Kempthorne, Richard Slee, and Simon Hopcroft.

 

Southland students at Lincoln University also make their name as scholarship winners. For example, current holders of the prestigious New Zealand Dairy Industry Undergraduate Scholarships at the University are - Zoe McCormack from Southland Girls' High School, a first year student doing a Bachelor of Environmental Management degree; Kieran O'Brien from St Peter's College, Gore, who is in the third year of a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree; Simon Topham from Central Southland College, in the third year of a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) degree; and Matthew Wild from James Hargest College, also in his third year doing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree.

 

Lincoln University Student Recruitment Officer Abby Shaw is visiting Southland at the moment and will be at the Gore Careers Expo at Gore High School on Thursday night, so if you would like to talk about Lincoln courses, there's your opportunity. Abby will also be visiting St Peter's College and Gore High School on Monday next week, Verdon College on Tuesday and will be at the South land Careers Expo, lnvercargill, on Thursday and Friday.