Darren Simpson-Lees Scholarship

Background

The Darren Simpson-Lees Scholarship was established in 2023 by Wintec in memory of Darren Simpson Lees, a past Wintec student.

This scholarship has been set up by Wintec and Darren's family to recognise and remember Darren's achievements and passion for Te Taiao (the natural environment).

About

The purpose of the scholarship is to assist students studying Advanced Horticultural Trades (Level 4) (Amenity, Arboriculture or Landscape Design) at Wintec who may be facing financial constraints to proceed to the second year of study. The scholarship will be awarded based on character and potential contribution to the community, as assessed by the selection panel.

Each year, a maximum of $4,000 is available to contribute toward tuition fees for a single year of enrolment. The scholarship is tenable for one year. This scholarship may be shared between two recipients. The decision to share the scholarship is entirely at the discretion of the selection panel.

Eligibility

Applicants for the scholarship must:

• be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident,
• have completed Applied Horticultural Services (Level 3) (General, Amenity, Arboriculture or Landscape Construction) or New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2),
• have applied or currently enrolled in the Advanced Horticultural Trades (Level 4) at Wintec.

Conditions

Applicants will need to complete the online application form.

The application must include the following supporting documents:

• A written personal statement, video, or voice recording outlining how this scholarship will assist the applicant in furthering their career aspirations (particularly in Horticultural Trades). How it will support their personal development and their potential contribution to the community and the environment,
• a current Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume,
• your referee's completed online scholarship referee questionnaire. This can be completed by a teacher or principal, an employer, a community/church leader (not a relative) or a tutor.
  If you choose a Wintec tutor as your referee, you must also provide an additional external reference, such as an employer, community or church leader, sports coach, etc.
  

Please note: Shortlisted applicants may be required to attend an interview.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the online application form.

Please ensure that the referee has completed the online scholarship referee questionnaire.

More information

For more information, please contact scholarships@wintec.ac.nz.

You can also view the scholarship regulations below.