Press Releases
Prime Minister’s Scholarships for 2009 announced
3 Feb 2009
Athletes, coaches, sports officials and support team members receiving 2009 Prime Minister’s Scholarships have been announced today.
This year 380 athletes, 28 coaches, 23 officials and 41 support team members have been awarded scholarships.
The scholarships enable recipients to pursue tertiary study or professional development while continuing to strive for sporting success. Athlete recipients receive up to $10,000 for university fees and a living allowance of up to $6000 for an academic year. Other recipients can receive up to $50,000 each year for up to three years.
A total of $4.25 million is allocated in scholarships each year.
This year’s recipients include Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken, Kirsten Hellier who coaches Olympic gold medallist Valerie Vili, Olympics boardsailing gold medallist Tom Ashley, Olympic rowing bronze medallist Nathan Twaddle, and Olympic swimmer Moss Burmester.
The list also includes young, talented coaches who have made an impressive rise in their current roles including rowing coach Calvin Fergusson, who has coached Olympic bronze medallist Mahe Drysdale, and Shane McLeod who coaches the Black Sticks men’s hockey team.
Support team recipients include sport scientist Craig Palmer, who helps BikeNZ’s elite cyclists including Olympic track cyclist Alison Shanks, and strength and conditioning specialist Brad Conza, who works as a physical conditioner for the New Zealand Football Ferns women’s football team and for Swimming NZ.
Award ceremonies for the recipients will be held throughout the year in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
See the minister’s press release at the Beehive website: 2009 Prime Minister's Sport Scholarships announced
List of Scholarship recipients for coaches, officials and support teams (PDF, 131 KB)
List of Athlete Scholarship recipients (PDF, 245 KB)
Updated | 03 Feb 2009.
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