The first recipients of the Manawanui scholarship are (from left): Isabella Miscisco, Ebony Miles-Wilson and Tim Chevtchenko. PHOTO: HEIDI RENATA Mr Chevtchenko, who grew up in New Zealand, is completing a commerce degree at the University of Otago with a double major in marketing and English. He is one of the inaugural recipients of the Manawanui leadership scholarship which builds on the success of the award-winning Mana Rangatahi programme in collaboration with INNOV8HQ and the Transition to Work Trust.
The trust is providing $50,000 to support five promising leaders in Otago, providing each with a $10,000 scholarship to advance their educational and leadership aspirations. The scholarship is valued at $10,000, with $5000 towards customised industry leadership mentoring programmes, in addition to a $5000 financial grant to support recipients in their desired educational or leadership pathways. The $5000 financial grant would be paid upon completion of meeting all programme key performance indicators and timelines.
Each of the three recently named recipients were graduates of the Mana Rangatahi programme. Two further scholarships were available in Central Otago and those recipients would be announced later this year. Mr Chevtchenko described it as an "amazing opportunity" for investment in his future and to grow himself as a person.
Ultimately, he wanted to be an entrepreneur, working in the business sector, and he hoped the scholarship would help "fast-forward" him to bein.
