Friends of the University of Auckland NZ/US Exchange Scholarships

Front Row: Richard Sorrenson (Friends of the University of Auckland), Toni Sy
Middle Row: David Baker (International Office), Meredith Baker, Alison Mclaughlin, Heidi Tannenbaum, Erin Gaab, Courtney-Savali Andrews
Back Row: Stuart McCutcheon (Vice-Chancellor), Jacob Hechter, Ben Falk
Unable to attend: Amy Fowler


This year's successful Friends of The University of Auckland US/NZ Exchange Scholars, all US citizens studying at Auckland, met each other and the Vice-Chancellor at an informal lunch in Old Government House on 9 August.

One of the main aims of Friends is to encourage academic exchanges between New Zealand and the United States and the US/NZ exchange scholarships are funded by gifts from Auckland alumni now living in the US.

Judging by the scholars' personal statements, they have found many and diverse opportunities in New Zealand and at Auckland.

New Zealand's unique marine environment and Auckland's Marine Science programme attracted Meredith and Amy from their home states of Colorado and Tennessee. Auckland's strong Pacific links have attracted Courtney-Savali and Ben (both of whom originate from the state of Washington) to cross the Pacific and study Samoan music and Pacific archaeology, while Erin and Toni (from California and Washington DC) have found that Auckland offers them unique opportunities in applied psychology in paediatric palliative care and behaviour analysis. Jacob and Alison have come from California and Michigan to study further what Auckland has to offer in sustainable planning, while Heidi (originally from Connecticut) finds inspiration in New Zealand's literary tradition for her own creative writing (and also appreciated being taught by the poet laureate of NZ last year).

Read more about the Scholarships.