Scholarship winner announced

Skye Jenkins from Tuakau College has won the 2025 PAK’nSAVE Pukekohe Scholarship.

The 17-year-old will put the $12,000 scholarship fund towards studying a Bachelor of Social Science at Waikato University, majoring in Psychology.

With multiple jobs and representing her school on several committees, the house leader has also undertaken many hours of voluntary community work throughout her schooling, whilst supporting her disabled parent and neurodiverse sibling.

Skye said she was passionate about mental well-being, which is her motivation for wanting to become a practising psychologist.

“I don’t have any words. I am very humbled and excited for the future and just want to say a big thank you to PAK’nSAVE Pukekohe,” she said.

PAK’nSAVE Pukekohe Scholarship Committee member Surinder Edwards said 11 finalists were interviewed from Pukekohe Christian School, Pukekohe High School, Tuakau College and Waiuku College.

“There were so many interesting candidates this year that we increased the number of applicants that we interviewed. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the incredibly talented young adults we have in our region.”

Navneet Kaur from Pukekohe High School was also awarded $3000 to put towards her studies.

PAK’nSAVE Pukekohe funds the scholarship.

“We are very proud of the scholarship programme and the assistance it has provided some of our local talented students. We enjoy following the previous recipients’ progress closely and take great pride seeing them go up on the wall when they graduate,” owner Nigel Ollett said.

Previous winners of the scholarship include: Tyler Gillibrand from Tuakau College, Tristan Ah-Sui and TJ Ah-Sui from Wesley College, Jemimah Elley from Onewhero, Alex Coleman-Chaiman, Hayley and Abby Thomas, Grace Wilcox and Zac Butters from Pukekohe, Alice Ward-Allen from Mauku, Mau Minhinnick and Dominic Melchers from Pokeno, Nivesh Nitendra and Adam Moss from Waiuku and Doctor Hannah Gill from Pukekohe.

The recipients have studied a wide range of topics, including engineering, law, arts, science, business, environmental studies, medicine, and paramedicine.

The PAK’nSAVE Pukekohe financial hardship Scholarship programme is open to Year 13 Students who have attended Onewhero Area School, Tuakau College, Pukekohe High School, Pukekohe Christian School, Waiuku College, Wesley College and ACG Strathallan College for five years, to study any course.