Footballer and final-year degree student Ruben Parker.
HBRU Academy player Al Momoisea is studying on a sports scholarship.
EIT actively supports sporting achievement in Hawke’s Bay, awarding a range of scholarships to encourage emerging talents to stay local while gaining tertiary qualifications through its study programmes.
Certificate in Foundation Studies – Construction student Al Momoisea and final-year Bachelor of Wine Science student Ruben Parker are just two of many athletes who are benefitting from EIT’s sports scholarship schemes.
This year, Ruben was awarded his second successive EIT Sport Hawke’s Bay-EIT Sports Scholarship. A talented footballer, he plays goalkeeper for the Napier City Rovers.
Earlier this season, he had to put his game on hold as he fulfilled a third year degree requirement to gain work experience with a 60-day internship. Working seven days a week, 12 hours a day, at Church Road over harvest, he missed his team’s national league semifinal with Hawke’s Bay United as well as the first four Central League games.
However, he says the experience and knowledge gained at the Taradale winery was greatly rewarding. Now back to playing for Napier City Rovers, he is loving being able to manage both sporting commitments and study.
Awarded a Hawkes Bay Rugby Union-EIT scholarship, Al considered several study options before deciding on an entry-level construction programme. “I could not be happier with the decision I made,” he says, “and would not go back.”
Having struggled to figure out a back-up plan if his ambition to play professional rugby doesn’t work out, Al is enjoying learning and making something every day in EIT’s trades workshop – “seeing your work at the end of the day just puts a smile on your face”.
Recently launched, EIT’s three-year partnership with the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union provides scholarships which encourage emerging rugby stars to study for tertiary qualifications while keeping their ball skills in the Bay.
Other high performance Academy players who are benefitting from that are centre Mitchell Drew (Certificate in Fitness and Health), flanker Jack Nelson Bachelor of Business Studies), lock Tyler Symon-Burke (Certificate in Plumbing and Gasfitting) and flanker Joshua Eden-Whaitiri (Bachelor of Business Studies).
A similar Hawks’ sports scholarship is assisting basketballers Mataeus Marsh and Dominic McGovan to study the Bachelor of Recreation and Sport.
The well-established Sport Hawke’s Bay-EIT scholarship also benefits golfer Sarah Deam and waka ama paddler Truman Stuart (Bachelor of Recreation and Sport) and athletics walker Sarah Paige and basketballer Anecia Winipera (Diploma of Recreation and Sport).