Adults Only: Celebrating the Vice-Chancellor's Adult Learners Awards from left to right, Warren Deane, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Doug Sutton, Julie Candish, Connie Kueh, Gloria Hunia, and Director of Waikato Pathways College Professor Brian Findsen.
Four adult students have been awarded a University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor’s Adult Learners Award.
The awards are intended to encourage more adults to access learning opportunities and to celebrate the efforts, achievements and contributions of adult learners.
Connie Kueh, Gloria Hunia, Warren Deane and Julie Candish each received awards of $1,000 at a ceremony during Adult Learners Week. The award recognises their academic and personal achievements.
Connie Kueh is studying full-time for a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Chemistry, while raising two young children and working when and wherever she can to provide additional support for her young family.
A single parent of six children and caregiver to two autistic children, Gloria Hunia has overcome adversity to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in French and Te Reo Māori, and has maintained an A grade average in her academic studies.
Warren Deane left school at the age of 15 without any formal qualifications. This year, he’s achieved A+ grades in almost all of his papers as part of a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Psychology and Philosophy.
Changing careers later in life, Julie Candish is on her way to completing a Bachelor of Teaching degree in Tauranga. She’s a regular volunteer at university and community events, including Camp Quality.
Waikato University has more than 4,700 adult learners, defined as students over the age of 25, who make up 38% of the student body. The awards have been presented since 2001.