Aoraki Foundation awards 2025 Scholarships

Five South Canterbury students have been recognised for their academic excellence and community promise, receiving scholarships from the Aoraki Foundation at its annual Giving Tuesday event.

Two Timaru Boys’ High School students, Jonty Porter and Jack Parry, were awarded the St Andrews Youth Scholarship. Porter will study for a Bachelor of Commerce at Lincoln University, while Parry will pursue the same degree at the University of Canterbury. The scholarship was established in 2020 by the St Andrews Golf Club following the closure of its course in 2018. Former committee member Graham Cadigan said the award was designed to encourage young people from St Andrews to achieve excellence.

The Hubbard Churcher Scholarships were presented to Tiah Moore of Timaru Girls’ High School and Cody Wright of Opihi College. Moore will study Law at Otago University, while Wright will begin a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Canterbury. The scholarship was created in 2004 by the late Allan and Margaret Hubbard to support South Canterbury students facing financial or social challenges.

The Mountainview High School Scholarship was awarded to Simran Toor, who will study Health Science at Otago University. Principal Kenny Diamond said the award recognises a student with a bright future. The scholarship was established in 2019 when the 90th Jubilee Scholarship transferred its funds to the Aoraki Foundation.

Aoraki Foundation Gift and Community Advisor Kirsty Burnett praised the calibre of applications, noting the difficulty of the selection process. She said it was great to recognise the scholarship recipients at the Giving Tuesday Donor Event – Castle Claremont was the perfect setting for this celebration, and it was a fabulous opportunity for recipients and their families to meet donors and learn more about the Foundation. 

Applications for the St Andrews Youth & Hubbard Churcher scholarships will reopen in August 2026.