Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
23 seconds ago
EIT | Te Pūkenga Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) ākonga (student) Abby Bailey has been awarded the Mary Isabella Pharazyn (nee Bollinger) Scholarship.
A 20-year-old Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) ākonga (student) at EIT | Te Pūkenga is one step closer to her dream job after being awarded a scholarship.
Abby Bailey won the Mary Isabella Pharazyn (nee Bollinger) Scholarship, awarded to a Level 7 Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) ākonga who has shown consistent success and commitment and will benefit from assistance to complete their studies.
“I’m really humbled and grateful to receive this scholarship. It helps so much to know that I can finish my degree, without the added financial stress.”
The scholarship was introduced in 2017, following a bequest by the Pharazyn Estate. It commemorates the life and work of Mary Isabella Pharazyn (nee Bollinger) who lived in Havelock North from 1961 until her death at the age of 52 in 1978.
The scholarship honours both the legacy of Mary’s own work amongst the families of the region, and the need she foresaw for financial support for excellence in training to work in this area.
Abby says she was immediately drawn to the degree at EIT | Te Pūkenga because of its practical application.
“I decided to go to EIT | Te Pūkenga and do early childhood because it was the most practical course. A lot of other polytechs and universities are obviously quite theory- based. EIT | Te Pūkenga took my eye straight away really with it being practical, hands-on learning.”
She moved to Hawke’s Bay in 2021 to begin her degree, after finishing school at Tararua College in Pahiatua.
Despite being the youngest in her family, Abby says she has always loved children. But she only realised she was passionate about becoming an early childhood teacher when she spent a few days at a centre in Palmerston North before applying.
“I love children. I was always around children when I was growing up. I’m the youngest in my family, but I was always around cousins and family friends, and people just said that I had that nature within me.”
She is currently working part-time at Laugh Observe Learn Early Childhood Educare in Hastings.
When she completes her degree at the end of the year, she hopes to work full-time at an early childhood centre.
While Abby acknowledges that the degreehas been “challenging at times,” she believes that the lecturers at EIT | Te Pūkenga have been instrumental in her success.
“I have found it really interesting. It’s definitely been a learning journey but very rewarding being a part of children’s growth and development.
“The lecturers from EIT | Te Pūkenga have been amazing and so supportive towards my studies. I’d say no question is a dumb question and they are just so flexible and understanding if I’ve got anything going on.”
Tania Du Plessis, the Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) at EIT | Te Pūkenga, says: “Abby is a hard-working and well-achieving student, who has a passion for educating young tamariki alongside their whānau. This scholarship will certainly help her complete her studies and qualify as an early childhood teacher, with the relief of some financial pressure.”
