Tauranga students celebrate Adult Learner awards

Three University of Waikato students who study in Tauranga received awards last night as part of the Tauranga Moana region’s 11^th annual Adult Learners’ Week Awards.

Kiri Diamond received the Acorn Foundation Eva Trowbridge Scholarship of $3000. This is awarded annually to a University of Waikato student who studies in Tauranga and who continues with their degree the following year.

Melissa Teirney and Fae McIntosh each received University of Waikato Tauranga Alumni Adult Learner Scholarships of $500. All three students were recognised for their enthusiasm and commitment to learning, inspiration to other students and contribution to the community.

Kiri is halfway through a Bachelor of Social Sciences majoring in Psychology and Education Studies. She is relishing the opportunity to develop her future career, building on her skills and experience after many years involved with community health, education and sport.

Kiri has also served on the Board of Trustees for Tauranga Intermediate School and is currently a Māori adviser for Group Special Education, and for 3D Health Services in Tauranga. She is passionate about strengthening local communities and intends to continue working within the Tauranga Moana community upon graduating.

Melissa Teirney has just completed her second year of a Bachelor of Teaching degree. She became passionate about teaching after travelling to Chile on a student exchange and then staying for 12 years. Not only did she become fluent in Spanish, she got a taste of the personal rewards that can be gained from teaching, having worked both as a Montessori pre-school teacher and English language teacher during her time there. She also contributed to not-for-profit community activities for disadvantaged children.

Despite single-handedly raising two daughters and working part-time, while taking on full-time studies, Melissa has maintained an A average during her studies. She particularly enjoys teaching English, Spanish and Social Science, and hopes to teach at an intermediate school when she graduates.

Fae McIntosh has completed her final year of study towards a Bachelor of Social Work. She first studied for a Diploma in Business Studies in 2003 and returned to study after many years working in a variety of fields, including horticulture, farming and school volunteer work. During her time at university she has taken on student representative roles, maintained consistently high grades and continued to support her full-time study with part-time work. She has three children and two grandchildren.

Fae has just completed her first practicum placement at Restorative Justice Tauranga Moana and is hoping to complete her second placement over the summer break in order to graduate in April next year. After graduating Fae hopes to work within the community as a qualified social worker.

Adult Learners’ Week, held nationally from 31 October – 4 November, is a UNESCO initiative organised in more than 40 countries to celebrate achievements and contributions in adult learning.