Previous winners of PwC Scholarships
Until 2007, the PwC Aspire Scholarship was known as the PricewaterhouseCoopers Career Assist Schools Programme (PwC CASP).
Just as PwC Aspire Scholarships will be, the PwC CASP grants were awarded to students who are all-rounders and who demonstrate an interest in commerce as a career.
Previous winners are:
2007 - 15 scholarships were awarded across New Zealand
Rachel Ah Koy, Rangitoto College
Henry Cairns, Sacred Heart College
Henry Caulton, King’s College
Matthew Davis, Westlake Boys High School
Sally Ding, Westlake Girls High School
Michael Erceg, Sacred Heart College
Emma Evans, Diocesan School for Girls
William Lawrence, King’s College
Joshua Hickford, Francis Douglas Memorial College
Melissa Kawhe, Napier Girls High School
Julia Cavanagh, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School
Matthew Rogers, Scots College
Edward Rosenberg, Wellington College
Gabrielle Smith, Burnside High School
Andrew Gray, John McGlashan College
2006 - 15 grants were awarded across New Zealand
Amanda Thomas, Kristin School
Amanda Yap-Choong, Rangitoto College
Brent Matuschka, Auckland Grammar School
Dex Fortescue, Saint Kentigern College
Neeharika Chowdhary, Saint Kentigern College
Salah Al-Chanati, Westlake Boys' High School
Samuel Cole, Kings College
Sean Yang, Westlake Boys' High School
Alex Gordon, Hutt Valley High School
Jeremy Stewart, Wellington College
Kate Symmans, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School
Julia Taylor, St. Margaret's College
Sophie Toomer, Columba College
Judith Hanna, Havelock North High School
Abraham Naus, Francis Douglas Memorial College
2005 - 13 grants were awarded across New Zealand
Neel Bhowmick, Auckland Grammar School
Alex Bond, St Kentigern College
Liam Nolan, St Kentigern College
Amy Tiong, Epsom Girls' Grammar School
Harrison Gould, King's College
James Dunn, Onslow College
Brendan Herder, St Patrick's College (Silverstream)
Thomas Stapp, Scots College
Hautahi Rawiri Kingi, Wanganui Collegiate
Paul Ataahua Smith, Napier Boys' High School
Annie Zhang, New Plymouth Girls' High School
Rebecca Johnson, Rangi Ruru Girls' College
Stacey Offen, Columba College
In 2004, the inaugural year of the PwC CASP, 12 grants were awarded across New Zealand.
Sarah Drinkwater, St Cuthbert's College
Christopher Hill, King's College
Prashilla Mistry, King's College
Michael Morrison, Macleans College
Daniel Houghton, Auckland Grammar School
Bill Huckstep, St Patrick's College (City)
Hamish O'Connor, St Patrick's College (City)
James Speight, Wellington College
Andrew McLean, St Andrew's College
Michael Kennedy, John McGlashan College
Jane Exeter, Napier Girls' High School
Matthew Hancock, New Plymouth Boys' High School
| Profile - Sarah Drinkwater
Sarah is living at home with her parents and two sisters, and now has a two years of Law and Commerce at Auckland University under her belt. She spent some time in Australia in her primary school years but New Zealand is very much home now. |
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Tell us about your school
I went to St Cuthbert’s College in Auckland. I particularly liked the friendships made both with peers and teachers, and the atmosphere the school created of being able to achieve anything you set your mind to.
What do you do when you aren’t at lectures?
I play social netball, go to the gym and swim. I also work as a nanny, tutoring and also work at Resenes.
What are some of the interesting assignments?
Many. Highlights from first year as uni was so different to school,but the thing I remember the most was starting my first day with two broken arms! I had broken them just the night before playing netball so it was a very tough first week!
What kind of work would you like to do in the future?
I'd like to do accounting and tax law.
What is the best thing you have done in the last 12 months?
Went to Otago uni for their orientation week to catch up with friends and had a really awesome time.
Last 3 books read?
Angels by Marian Keyes, Jessica by Bryce Courtney, Falling Leaves by Adeline Yeh
Last DVD watched?
The Wedding Crashers
Last holiday?
We visited Pauanui - we have a family bach there and love being at the beach!
Profile - James Speight
James Speight lives on Dundas Street in Dunedin with six flatmates – two surveyors, two lawyers, a phys edder, and another future accountant. He calls Wellington home as that is where his family is and where he went to school. He is studying Commerce (Accounting and Finance) at the University of Otago. |
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What did you like about school?
I attended Wellington College. I liked the strong sense of tradition, the great teaching staff, and the friends I made over the five years I went to secondary school there.
What do you do when you aren’t studying?
I enjoy playing squash, catching up with friends and relaxing watching TV with my flatmates.
What is some of the interesting work you have had on your plate?
One of the most interesting assignments I had last year was for Finance 101. It involved valuing three shares listed on the NZX. I attempted to value Waste Management Limited, Fletcher Building Limited, and Dorchester Pacific Limited. We attempted to value these stocks with the Dividend Discount Model, and some rather wild valuations resulted.
The highlight of my first year at University was definitely meeting a huge range of people at Unicol, the hostel I was living in.
What kind of work would you like to do in the future?
I would like to work in the finance sector, perhaps doing value consulting or funds management.
What is the best place you have been in the past 12 months?
The best place I have been to in the last 12 months was definitely the Rhythm & Vines concert in Gisborne for New Year’s.
What were the last three books you read?
Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer, The Brethren by John Grisham, and The Fourth Estate by Jeffrey Archer.
What was the last DVD you hired? The Island
Bill Huckstep
Bill is a born and bred Wellingtonian who attended St Patrick's College. He plays rugby, tennis, and enjoys the great NZ outdoors
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What are you studying?
At Victoria University, where I am studying a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (BCA), with a double major in Accounting and Commercial Law.
What do you do away from studying? I work part-time (12-15 hours a week) at Credit Consultants, a debt recovery agency. I play for Marist St Pats (MSP) rugby, and I also play social tennis. I enjoy outdoor adventure activities such as rafting as well. I also do volunteer work at Challenge 2000 - an organisation that works with young people in the community.
Have you done any interesting assignments at uni?
For my Marketing 101 paper, we had a group assignment and my section was to go through the buyer behaviour process for an espresso machine. So I went around different stores and spoke with retail staff about the pros and cons of different models. Good fun.
The highlight of the university year was the day exams finished! Also probably the day results came out, the culmination of a trimester's work and it was very rewarding to get the grades I wanted (and disappointing for the ones I didn't get!)
Where do you see yourself working in the future?
Definitely in the accountancy profession, somewhere that utilises my qualifications - working with clients and so on. Maybe some research down the line.
What's the best thing you've done in the last 12 months?
Definitely playing rugby again after almost a decade absence. The camaraderie and team social
activities were a really good time.
Last three books you read?
The Ambler Warning - Robert Ludlum. The Emperor Series - Conn Iggulden. The Last Legion - Valerio Massimo Manfredi.
Last DVD you rented?
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy - my favourite movie of all time.
Where was your last holiday?
Masterton - just went there for a mini-break before university started. Chose there because it was a good holiday destination from when I was younger, and I just wanted to relax by the pool.
Hamish O'Connor
Hamish lives at home with his family in Hataitai and is studying toward a BCA degree at Victoria University. As well as hitting the books, he does volunteer work and has two part-time jobs
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What do you do when you aren't at lectures and studying?
I'm the vice-president of CanTeen, so volunteer a lot of time doing work with them. Also involved with the Future Leaders Programme with the Leadership Institute of Auckland. I work part-time at a cafe and a video store. When I find time, I like to go out and have a good time in town with mates, or just chill and relax.
What are some of the interesting assignments you have had on your plate at University?
Most interesting assignment was making a proposal for a new product - had to design it as well as come up with ideas for marketing, selling and everything else involved. At uni the highlight of the year was passing everything!
What kind of work would you like to do in the future?
Still not totally sure - always been interested in the whole idea of accountancy, finance and so on so just going to see what papers I enjoy at uni this year and see where they take me!
What are the best things you have done in the past 12 months?
Organising camps and activities for CanTeen members - and passing all my papers at uni!
What were the last three books you read?
I'm not a big book reader, so probably my course readings from papers at uni last year!
What was the last DVD you hired or movie you went to?
Crash (fantastic movie).
Where did you visit on your last holiday?
I haven't been on holiday for ages! Although when I went to Auckland for a leadership course, we decided to make it a longer stay and have a good time.