Don Linklater Memorial Bursary awarded

Horizons Regional Council have awarded two environmental studies students with the Don Linklater Memorial Bursary for 2020.

The Don Linklater Memorial Bursary was established to honour the contribution made to the region by the late Don Linklater, who was Horizons Regional Council Chair from 1989 to 2000.
 
Horizons deputy chair Jono Naylor, noted each student was able to receive up to $3000 with the bursary being open for students studying at either undergraduate or postgraduate level.
 
The recipients Claire Gordon and Danielle Thompson, were both awarded $3,000 for the 2020 academic year.
 
Councillor Naylor said the grants were a tangible way to support students in the environmental field and reflect the environmental work Horizons does.
 
“Providing this bursary is an exciting opportunity, especially when the applications we received were all very impressive – this gave the panel a tough job of selecting the recipients.” 
 
“Natural resources are integral to New Zealand so it is fantastic to be investing in our future students who will protect those resources.”
 
Claire Gordon from Pongaroa, is studying toward a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Geography and minoring in Environmental Science at University of Canterbury; and is hoping to become a farm consultant.
 
“I am passionate about the outdoors, agriculture, and the environment. Through growing up on a sheep and beef hill country farm I am particularly interested in working alongside farmers to plan effective erosion control methods unique to their farm system,” said Ms Gordon.
 
Danielle Thompson from Whanganui, is studying toward a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Natural Resources at University of Canterbury.
 
“Growing up on a farm in Whanganui has made me really value working with nature rather than against nature.
 
“In the future, I would love to work in regenerative planning and development, including introducing nature in a larger capacity back into our cities, or disaster risk and resilience particularly in regard to flooding and earthquakes,” said Ms Thompson.
 
Applications for the 2021 funding round will open early next year. More information can be found at www.horizons.govt.nz.