In a collaborative effort with Rowing New Zealand, Aon New Zealand introduced the Emerging Schools Scholarship in 2023. This initiative aims to make rowing accessible to all schools, irrespective of their resources and financial constraints.
The scholarship is designed to bolster the growth of rowing programs, particularly within educational institutions lacking a well-established rowing tradition. The overarching objective is to have more teams participating in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Championships, commonly referred to as the Aon Maadi Regatta.
Taupo-nui-a-Tia College revealed its plans for the $5,000 scholarship funds, which include recruiting a minimum of six new rowers annually, implementing a badge system for premier team selection, entering a quad at the 2024 Aon Maadi Regatta, and an eight in 2025.
“Equity is a big word in schools, and it is very hard to offer that equity with rowing, so the Aon Emerging Schools Scholarship offers a real opportunity for us,” said Erica Strik, Taupo-nui-a-Tia College sport coordinator. “There are so many people on the water with waka ama and our active cultural life here at the school, so through this scholarship we can engage a wider breadth of our community. I cannot wait to see where our journey takes us, through to Maadi and beyond.”
Elsewhere in the company, Aon recently announced the appointment of Melissa Cantell as chief executive officer for its New Zealand business, with Cantell stepping into the role on July 24.
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