This determined young man excelled academically at school and
was also a talented sportsman with a particular strength in rugby.
Franz found time to be involved in cultural events such as the
Polynesian festival representing his Samoan culture. Franz managed
all this without the direct support of his parents who reside in
Samoa.
"Franz is clearly a young man with exceptional personal qualities
who has a strong desire to succeed both professionally and
personally. He has a strong sense of community and a willingness to
positively influence the lives of others. We very quickly realised
Franz would be an ideal choice for Gibson Sheat," said Tony
Southall of Gibson Sheat. In Franz' own words, "the whole process
was a big positive for me. The experience, as well as the
confidence boost has helped me get to where I wanted. The support
from my Scholarship Partner was influential, as well as the
guidance from the First Foundation team and both have really set a
solid foundation for my future".
At the age of 16 his future goals included playing Rugby to a high
level and gaining a Commerce degree, both of which he has now
achieved. Franz studied Business through a Bachelor of Commerce and
Administration with Victoria University, graduating in 2010. He
then went to Sydney where he is played professional Rugby and work.
He returned to New Zealnd in 2015 and is currently working at
Xero as a Customer Experience Team Leader.