Notable award for AUT Business student
For the second year in a row, an AUT Business postgraduate has won the prestigious Beta Gamma Sigma scholarship.
Last year, Master of Business student Andrew Wilson was awarded the $500 NZD prize to fund his MBA studies.
This year, Hilary Esterhuizen, who earned a Bachelor of Business in Information Studies and Accounting in 2019, has been awarded the 2021 prize.
The scholarship requires that the recipient be both a BGS Lifetime Member and returning to tertiary education for further studies, as well as an exceptional student.
Being awarded the Beta Gamma Sigma scholarship made Hilary's dream of changing industry into chartered accountancy a reality. She and her husband run their own business, Lohil Industrial Services Ltd, while she completes the final courses necessary to proceed with CA qualification.
Hilary is proud that her commitment to changing careers has been recognised.
"It's a lot of hard work between studying and working, getting there and maintaining the marks; a lot of effort has gone in," she says.
Standing Beta Gamma Sigma NZ Chapter President, Alex Waddell, says the BGS scholarship exists to help recipients just like Hilary.
"One of the foundational pillars of BGS is to encourage and honour academic achievement in the study of business. Not only does this scholarship encourage further education, it also recognises the dedication and determination our members have to serve the communities (they live in)," says AUT graduate Waddell, a BGS member since 2016 and President as of 2020.