lasting legacy Scholarships create

With many incredible changes and challenges in the world since St Andrew’s was founded 106 years ago, the needs of the College community have varied according to the times, says Rector, Christine Leighton. “There have been times of extreme hardship, such as the First and Second World Wars, the Depression, and latterly the earthquakes and COVID-19. St Andrew’s has always tried to support members of its community through adversity. Conversely, in the early days, once student numbers grew and the College entered more affluent times, it started to provide generous financial support for students, many of whom would not otherwise have been able to attend the College. Scholarships have always been part of the DNA of St Andrew’s.”

The world is a diverse place, and St Andrew’s commitment to supporting its own diverse community continues. “Over the years, there have been many incredibly generous people who have either gifted money to St Andrew’s and our various fundraising campaigns, or left money to the St Andrew’s College Foundation.”

The Foundation was established in 1993 to independently oversee the management and prudent investment of the generous gifts and donations made to the College. A $400,000 annual grant from the Foundation contributes to the scholarships offered to a number of students in academic, sport, music, Pipe Band, and areas of endeavour. A few named scholarships have been gifted by generous benefactors over the years, who have contributed to the Foundation. These include the George Feilding Hight Scholarships, the John Sinclair Scholarship and the

Endeavour Scholarship, each of which are based upon financial need.

Among the many notable scholarship students who have passed through St Andrew’s gates are Professor Michael Spiro (Dux of the College 1946), a former Jewish refugee, who led an outstanding academic career overseas, becoming an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the Imperial College of London after leaving St Andrew’s. In 2007, he donated $1.2m to the College, which was devoted to the Spiro and Mathematics Centre. All Black, Richie Mo’unga (OC 2012), came to the College in Year 10. He has previously said he owes a lot to St Andrew’s. “Without the support and the opportunities they gave me, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Jin Ju (Victoria) Lee (OC 2019) is an accomplished scholarship musician, who achieved many accolades during her time at St Andrew’s. She was recently accepted into Medical School, but continues to come back to St Andrew’s every year to support the Music programme.

Christine says St Andrew’s is proud of its top-class facilities, dedicated teaching staff, and a diverse academic and co-curricular programme, which supports scholarship students to develop special talents to their full potential. “We are incredibly grateful to the many people in our College community whose generosity in supporting our thriving Scholarship programme creates life-changing opportunities for students.”

For more information about supporting the Scholarship programme, email development@stac.school.nz