The Eastern Institute of Technology’s (EIT) School of Business, has awarded the Sir James Wattie Scholarship to Candice D’Acre (Ngāti Porou).
Candice, a Bachelor of Business Studies student was awarded the $15,000 scholarship offered by Ryman Healthcare, in honour of visionary Hawke’s Bay entrepreneur Sir James Wattie (1902-1974).
Candice said “I am immensely grateful to Ryman Healthcare for presenting me with this generous scholarship.” Candice is not only a top student and mother of two children (4 and 6 years old) but also the first in her family to gain a degree.
Dr Sabine Hoffman, Head of EIT’s Schools of Business and Computing said they were, “really excited to offer this scholarship and I’m sure it will make a substantial impact on Candice and her future.”
When the scholarship was announced in July, Caren Wattie, Sir James’s granddaughter, said it was great to see him honoured. “We’re really proud of our grandfather’s legacy and thank Ryman, EIT and the Hawke’s Bay community for honouring him in this way. We hope this scholarship will inspire those business students to go forward as entrepreneurs and help grow Hawke’s Bay.”
Ryman Healthcare’s Corporate Affairs Manager, David King said Candice was a deserving winner. “Candice is bright, hard-working and entrepreneurial and she has made a lot of sacrifices to study. We are delighted to be able to support her in this way, and she shows that the spirit of Sir James is alive and well in the region he loved so much.”
Candice is about to finish her degree and will then go on to do the Master of Digital Business at EIT. The scholarship will not only help pay off her student loan but also start her own business. Candice and her husband are in the process of launching Mellows, their own gourmet marshmallow company!
