PUBLISHED MAY 2023
Jaxson puts himself on the map: 2023 Trustee Award
Jaxson with representatives from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, his First Foundation Scholarship partner.
Jaxson is the first in his family to attend university and gain a degree. He brought dogged determination on his journey from a single-income home in Taita to pursue a Bachelor of Applied Sciences at Otago University. “It was daunting for a boy from Taita College, a boy from the Hutt, to move down to Ōtepoti,” he says.
“Māori and Pasifika students are hugely underrepresented in the sciences,” Jaxson explains, but he says this has added to his determination to succeed. “It was very important for me to come down here and make a change, to make a difference.”
“It was daunting for a boy from Taita College, a boy from the Hutt, to move down to Ōtepoti.”
Plotting a path for others
After navigating the transition away from home, Jaxson returned to his halls of residence as a Residential Advisor. “It meant a lot to me to be in a position to help support students who have similar backgrounds to mine, coming from low decile socio-economic households. This has led to me developing more confidence in myself and going further in my studies.”
And Jaxson is certainly going further!
“I’m now doing postgrad studies. I’m also doing Lab demonstrations twice a week, teaching second years geography.”
Jaxson accepts his award from First Foundation Chair, Michael Harper.
A life-altering scholarship
Jaxson says the impact of the First Foundation scholarship is profound. “I genuinely don’t think I could have gotten where I am today without First Foundation’s support; the financial assistance made a massive difference. When I told my mother about the scholarship, she was ecstatic.”
“My mum, the amazing, terrific woman who has raised me, along with my aunts, my sisters, my cousins.” His face lights up when he remembers their pride and shares his gratitude.
“Thank you to the Board and wider First Foundation team, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, my scholarship partner. I have been so honoured and so privileged to work with NZTE for the last four summers; they did amazing work with me, and I did amazing work with them.
“I want to give a massive thanks to my mentor, Dougal, for all the support and the love that you have given me.”
It was a very proud moment for Jaxson’s mum who was at the event to cheer him on.
“The proudest moment for me of the last four years would be finishing my degree. It’s allowed me so much mahi and so much mana.”
“To have a degree majoring in STEM and in arts as well has been absolutely incredible. It’s definitely set me up for the future, along with my family, my whānau, my ainga. I have learned so much.
“I want to give a massive thanks to my mentor, Dougal, for all the support and the love that you have given me.”
