Two University of Waikato students, both Hillary scholars, are on top of the world.
Stacey Waaka, the Black Fern’s youngest player, was in the team that beat England 41-32 in the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, played in Belfast yesterday.
Across the Atlantic in Toronto, Canada, Morgan Haakma won a world amateur world wakeboarding title.
Morgan is currently based in the USA on a University of Waikato overseas exchange, studying at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. It’s a fantastic result for Morgan who has had to battle her way back to form after suffering a serious knee injury.
Morgan is studying for a Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance, and Stacey is studying the older version of the same degree – a Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies.
Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarships are awarded to students who are high academic achievers and who are also achieving in the arts or sports. Scholars have their course fees covered, receive specialist coaching and mentoring and take part in personal development and leadership programmes.