Aquaculture scholarship available
Vaun Shearer loves learning about the different aspects of aquaculture. Photo: Supplied.
Former Golden Bay High School student Vaun Shearer says 2011 has been one of the best years of his life.
“I’ve been studying the Diploma of Aquaculture at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and it’s been great – even better than I expected with heaps of hands-on learning.”
Vaun was the first-ever recipient of the Marine Farming Association Aquaculture Scholarship, designed to encourage young people from Golden Bay to study for a career in aquaculture. The scholarship pays half the student’s Diploma of Aquaculture study fees.
Vaun heard about the scholarship in 2010, applied and was thrilled to win. Since then he says he’s loved learning about the different aspects of aquaculture.
“The cool thing about the course is that you get to see all these different areas where you could end up in a career – shellfish, finfish, and research and development as well. There’s lots of fun stuff too and I’ve found most of it really enjoyable. You do the class work and then you get to go out and put it into practice in the wet lab and the hatchery.”
Vaun says he’s looking forward to when the diploma students get to use the new NMIT facilities at the Cawthron Aquaculture Park, on the outskirts of Nelson.
“We’ve been out for a few site visits and we can’t wait to get in there. The new intake of students will get to use these great resources out there, right alongside the scientists and aquaculture industry with classroom and wet labs. It’s pretty exciting.”
Vaun is keen to encourage high school students connected to Golden Bay to apply for the next scholarship.
“Getting the scholarship has been great. It’s nice to know that the MFA, which is such a big player in the aquaculture industry, is getting behind the course.”
Vaun says every time he goes back to Golden Bay, people are interested in the course and what he’s doing. “I tell them it was the best decision I’ve made to apply for the scholarship and I hope others follow my example. My message to other school leavers is, if you like aquaculture, go for it.”
Vaun loves being hands-on in the NMIT hatchery working with salmon, and also the work placement he did with NZ King Salmon but he’s still undecided about exactly what career he’d like in the Aquaculture industry. “I’m keeping my options open for the second year of the diploma. But that’s what’s really good about the course. It’s shown me that there are a lot of career options – more than I knew when I started the course.”
Applications for the next Marine Farming Association Scholarship can be made by contacting NMIT or through your school. It is open to school leavers whose family home is in Golden Bay. The deadline for applications is 31 October 2011. www.nmit.ac.nz or phone 0800 4 Careers.
Submitted by NMIT
