Student Stories
Here are just a few of the successful recipients' stories
If you do have the ability to help other students like Anna, Jun Yi, Thomas, Sam, Hannah, Laura, Mia, Imogen, Anh, Rae, Rin, Estella, Regan, Jonathan, Kate, George, Ben, Julia, Jack and Lucy, or would like to provide for other initiatives of benefit to the two Colleges, please consider donating to The Foundation.
2025 Salmond College Award Recipient
Anna Harrex
I am so thankful to have received this award to support my accommodation at Salmond.
This award removed financial barriers for me and is the reason I was able to live at Salmond this year. Without it I would have missed out on so many great experiences and opportunities that are offered here.
I have been able to take part in lots of sporting opportunities like a social netball competition and a ki-o-rahi tournament. I have also been able to achieve highly in my assignments and exams.
My year at Salmond has been filled with lots of great experiences. Some stand outs have been the Ball, floor events, and all the opportunities to meet people and become really close friends
I am studying towards a Bachelor of Teaching, and I hope this will lead to me becoming a qualified primary teacher who makes a difference in kids’ lives.
2025 Salmond College Award Recipient
Jun Yi Shen
I am truly grateful to the Salmond and Knox Foundation for selecting me as a recipient of this award. The funding has greatly helped to ease the financial pressure of studying at Otago. It has allowed me to focus on my studies and personal growth, rather than worry about finances.
This year, I'm proud to have made strong academic progress in my Computer Science studies, achieving A+ grades in my papers so far, so this will help me complete my degree and graduate at the end of this year. I also took part in several college events, which made my overseas studies more colourful and helped me grow personally.
I have so many memorable experiences at the college, such as the College Ball, the ice skating floor event, and the farewell dinner. Salmond College has truly felt like a home away from home for me.
I hope to continue developing my skills in AI and software engineering and pursue a career that uses technology to make a positive impact on people's lives.
2025 Knox College Award Recipient
Thomas Nicholson
As a recipient of the 2025 Foundation Award, I have found this year of university life to be so much easier in all regards.
The award has enabled me to return to Knox College without having to worry as much about the cost of accommodation in Dunedin, which has enabled me to focus more on my studies and achieve some amazing results. I’m very grateful to have been given this opportunity as I am sure there were many other applicants who deserved to receive an offer as well.
Coming back to Knox has given me the opportunity to participate in all sorts of activities that wouldn’t have been available to me if I weren’t a resident, from participating in the Relay for Life, supporting other college events and making lifelong friends.
I believe that Knox provides an excellent study environment that will help me to complete my degree in Marine Science and Zoology by the end of next year, after which I plan to apply for postgraduate studies.
2025 Knox College Award Recipient
Sam Kennett
I’d like to start by thanking the Foundation for the honour of this selection and the financial help they have provided me over two years of study.
This has helped me immensely. Committing to university was a big decision for my family, as circumstances have meant that my Mum has become the main breadwinner of the family, so this has been a massive help in giving me the opportunity to study.
Over the two years in Dunedin, I feel I have matured and learned a lot about myself. In the extracurricular department, I am part of a band which recently finished in third place in the “Bring the Noise” band competition. Excitingly, our placing came with some bonuses from the organisers, Sublime Studio, that will help us progress as a band.
Knox has helped me forge invaluable friendships that I hope will last me many years. As well as this, it has given me an opportunity to perform in front of my peers in both sports and cultural events in the Cameron Shield and Nevill Cup. All in all, Knox has helped me form an identity, confidence in myself, and a community I can return to.
With regards to future plans, I’m hoping to use my degree to enter the Physiotherapy programme at Otago, with the hope of achieving my dream career of working with a sports team. However, if this doesn’t work out, I would be very happy with any stable Physio job within the community. This is what I am working towards.
2023 Salmond College Award Recipient
Hannah Hickey
Being a Knox and Salmond College Foundation award recipient has been a great honour. It has helped me to be more involved in college life while still being able to focus on my studies. I have loved my first year at Salmond College - being a part of so many events such as inter-college sports, volunteering and hall only gatherings.
Having the opportunity to be able to be a returner at Salmond is so exciting and I can’t wait to make many more memories at Salmond college in 2024.
2022 Salmond College Award Recipient
Laura Scobie
The Foundation’s award offered some much-needed financial relief for me to enjoy my first year of University at Otago. Salmond College provided me with the support I needed to become settled into the University lifestyle, it also allowed me to make valuable friendships and connections that I know will last a life-time.
The academic support within Salmond was one of the most important things that helped me during my first year, and I am very grateful for the opportunities I was given during my time at Salmond College.
2021 Knox College Award Recipient
Mia Boothroyd
I am sincerely grateful for the Foundation of Knox and Salmond College Award. It has reduced the financial burden and allowed me to focus more rigorously on my studies; as I am often away on field trips for geology this has been particularly helpful as it means I can enjoy doing fieldwork without worrying about missing part-time work.
Furthermore, the award has allowed me time to engage with the Knox College community, such as attending Neville Cup events, performing at formal dinners and singing in the chapel choir, as well as giving me the opportunity to explore new places such as the Quarantine Island Trip. It goes without saying that I have also met some amazing people and formed new friendships at Knox, and I look forward to meeting new people and being part of the amazing Knox community again this year. Thank you very much to The Foundation for their support.
Read more about Mia’s adventures since being at Knox.
2021 Knox College Award Recipient
Imogen McNeill
I am deeply grateful to the Foundation for the financial support enabling my first year at Knox. To be a resident at a college with the history and community of Knox is a real privilege, and this goes beyond having a dining room that looks like Hogwarts, good as that is.
Representing Knox in the debate against Selwyn College was a definite highlight, as were seeing my friends involved in all the other Cam and Nev events, and participating in chapel services and formal dinners.
My year at Knox taught me to embrace community life, put in the work for university, and play the odd game of billiards; it has certainly set me up well for the rest of my degree.
2021 Salmond College Award Recipient
Anh Ha
I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to The Foundation for choosing me as one of the award recipients to attend Salmond College in 2021. Being awarded a award is a real privilege and it has given me the opportunity to be part of ‘The Mond’.
I have utilised my time at Salmond by getting involved in numerous activities offered by the hall. Whether it was culture, social, volunteer or sports, I very much enjoyed these activities with our wonderful cohort. Salmond was a great assistance for my first year at University as I never had to worry about meals, doing the dishes or even vacuuming my own bedroom!
The assistance academically as tutorials for most first-year papers were offered which made my study a lot easier. If it was not for the Award, I could have missed out on Salmond which equals missing out on a lot of unforgettable moments, fun and, more importantly, friendship. I am incredibly grateful for the support from the Foundation and I will be giving back to the Foundation and Salmond College further down the track.
2021 Knox College Award Recipient
Rae Katipa
The award helped with some of the accommodation fee which took some weight off my shoulders. I don't think I'd would have been able to afford it without the award.
Through Knox, I meet an amazing group of like-minded people who I believe are going to be life-long friends. We may not be the most socially-out-going or sporty group but we are a bunch of geeky, quirky introverts who all share a love of Doctor Who. And without Knox, I highly doubt I would have ever been able to meet them.
I have the utmost gratitude for the foundation award and the opportunity it had given me (a small town Māori girl, from a large family, with a low income background).
2021 Knox College Award Recipient
Rin Oyanagi
The award has given me the opportunity to connect with many different people, expanding my community during my time at Otago University, making it more lively, comforting and exciting!
During my time at Knox, I have tried to get involved with as many Cameron shield events as I possibly can. This has allowed me to get to know more people while also allowing me to connect with the college more, which has been one of the many highlights here at Knox College
2020 Knox College Award Recipient
Estella Van Der Lee
I am ever grateful to the Knox and Salmond College Foundation and their donors for their incredible support. Without the Foundation, I would have seriously struggled to attend my dream hall.
Without the stress of financial burdens, I was able to focus on what is important - making lifelong friends and putting everything into my studies and my community. I enjoyed giving back to the college by means of reading at Chapel services and taking part in Cam and Nev Cup events.
I am lucky to have developed amazing relationships with members of the Foundation through Knox events such as the garden party, academic reception, as well as with the Head of College through day-to-day Knox life. Thank you to The Foundation, the generous donors, Graham and Caroline.
2020 Salmond College Award Recipient
Regan Pohio RJ Thompson -Taurima tōku ingoa.
He uri au o Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Whātonga me Tahupōtiki.
Ko Tangoio taku tūrangawaewae, ā, ko Te Whanganui a Tara taku ūkaipō.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini
My strength is not that of a single warrior but that of many.
I am very fortunate to be a recipient of the Salmond College Returners' Award.
2020 has been a truly unprecedented year. In true 'mond' fashion we adapted when necessary, had incredible, COVID-alert-level-appropriate events, and always looked after one another.
As the President of Salmond College, this award made me even more motivated to do as much as I could, and be as positive a presence as possible.
I'm thankful to the Foundation of Knox and Salmond College and the donors, as much as I am to the staff, the RLs and my fellow residents who made this year full of twists and turns as wonderful as it was!
Salmond College truly has been my second home in Ōtepoti/Dunedin for the past two years. I'll be forever grateful for every opportunity I've been given, and for the whānau I've met within these walls.
2020 Salmond College Award Recipient
Kate Caradus
I wanted to say thank you for choosing me to be one of your award recipients; it means the world to me that you would think that highly of me. I understand that being awarded one of these is a real privilege and that makes me proud to know that among the other applicants my application stood out.
I am looking forward to working and helping Salmond Hall in the future, both while I’m here at Otago and later on in life.
I am truely excited for this coming year and believe that me being at Salmond will enhance my “uni experience” and help set me up for success. I am already thinking about possibly applying to come back as a Residential Leader in the next couple of years.
This years RL’s are a true inspiration as they are all so kind and generous with their time and knowledge. If I come back as an RL, I would hope to be even half as amazing as them, so that the residents that I connect with would see me as both a resource and a friend.
2019 Knox College Award Recipient
Jonathan McLeay
I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to The Foundation for choosing me as one of the award recipients to attend Salmond College in 2021. Being awarded a award is a real privilege and it has given me the opportunity to be part of ‘The Mond’.
I have utilised my time at Salmond by getting involved in numerous activities offered by the hall. Whether it was culture, social, volunteer or sports, I very much enjoyed these activities with our wonderful cohort. Salmond was a great assistance for my first year at University as I never had to worry about meals, doing the dishes or even vacuuming my own bedroom!
The assistance academically as tutorials for most first-year papers were offered which made my study a lot easier. If it was not for the Award, I could have missed out on Salmond which equals missing out on a lot of unforgettable moments, fun and, more importantly, friendship. I am incredibly grateful for the support from the Foundation and I will be giving back to the Foundation and Salmond College further down the track.
2019 Foundation Scholar at Salmond
Great grandson of James Salmond
George Sutton
When you hear that the best thing about a residential college is the people, it can seem like a non-answer. How do you know the people in your year will be as amazing, as fantastic, and as friendly as in the years prior? Take it from me, not only are the facilities great and the food top notch, but the people here are pretty awesome too.
I don't think it's an overstatement to say that the award was one of the reasons I was lucky enough to get into second year law for 2020. Because I spent less time worrying about my finances throughout the year and more time studying and attending tutorials, when the end of the year came about, I was as prepared as I could possibly be. When you move away from home and become a student in a new city, every dollar counts, and I'm incredibly grateful to the foundation.
2019 Foundation Scholar at Knox
Julia Hilterscheid
I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend Knox college, thanks to the Foundation’s Award. Knox has shaped my first year at University with its many social and sporting events, community living environment and academic support. I played rugby, basketball, volleyball and football against Selwyn College, and the final result for the Cameron Shield was Knox winning for the first time in 7 years!
Other activities I participated in: the overnight tree planting trip to the Wetlands, the Larnach Castle and Suburbia balls, a road trip on the West Coast of the South Island (one of the highlights of the year) and the Knox Ski Trip - which would have been unaffordable had it not been for the Award.
Some papers I took this year were particularly challenging such as Math 170, however with the help of tutors provided by Knox I made the required grades and exceeded my own expectations!
2018 Foundation Scholar at Knox
Ben Johnson
Knox College was without a doubt my first choice of residential college but without the award, I was unsure whether or not I would be able to attend due to financial reasons. Residing at Knox has given me the most amazing opportunities, which include but are not limited to: performing at formal dinners, singing in the Chapel Choir, partaking in many Nevill Cup events against Selwyn College, meeting and getting to know an ex-professional opera singer, and lastly making friends that I, without a doubt, call my family.
Because of the generosity of the Foundation, I was able to be financially stable throughout the year, not have to seek part time work and it allowed me to concentrate fully on my studies.
2018 Recipient
Jack Mockford
Playing representative cricket meant that I didn’t have the time to work and therefore attending University would be a financial burden on my family. However, the Award changed this by enabling me to continue with my sporting career and pursue a B.Sc.
I am very grateful to the Foundation for supporting me.
"I saw winning the award as both a reward for my hard work and also as recognition
for my efforts."
2018 Recipient
Lucy Mcllwaine
The Foundation Award enabled me to move from Auckland to Dunedin to take up a place at Salmond College, where I immediately felt like a valued and respected member of the Salmond community.
The Award has also allowed me to achieve high grades in my Human Nutrition degree as I have not had to seek part time work. I loved my time at Salmond and am very grateful for both the pastoral and financial support I received during my time there.
2017 Recipient
Julia Harvey
I attended Knox College, where I have had incredible cultural and leadership opportunities, as well as a rich academic and social experience. With the support of this award, I did not have to work and this allowed me to take every academic opportunity I was presented with. Not only have I achieved academic success and made an incredible group of friends at the College, but I was also lucky enough to obtain the role of Knox College Beadle (ceremonial officer) for my second year in the College, thus enriching my leadership experience even further. With this role I have had the chance to help maintain the traditions that make Knox College so unique, while networking with outstanding role models.
This would not have been possible without the generous support of those behind the Foundation of Knox College and Salmond College Award, and I am extremely grateful to have been a recipient of this award.
Knox College Award Recipients
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Group Photos of Award Recipients
Front row: Caroline Hepburn-Doole (Head of Knox College), Grace Togneri, Tayla Green, Mia Boothroyd
Absent: Olivia Jowsey, Courtney-Rose Wilson
Front row: Kiri Foulis, Deana MacDonald, Gabriella Ogg, Ondrea Caddy, Hollie Thomas
Front row: Alison Finigan, Tim Gray, Nicola Peart, Rae Katipa, Mia Boothroyd, Rin Oyanagi, Imogen McNeill
Front row: Front row (From left beside Kaeli Lalor) Marissa Whittle, Lexi Hulbert, Abbie Harrison, Natasha Leslie
Elle Chotiwanich, Celeste Lane, Lloyd Perratt, Josh Sturgeon.
Absent: Alec McLeish, Gabrielle Pan.
Absent: Mckenzie Brown and Tasmin Turner-Thomas
Front row: Caroline Hepburn-Doole (Head of Knox College), Grace Togneri, Tayla Green, Mia Boothroyd
Absent: Olivia Jowsey, Courtney-Rose Wilson
Front row: Kiri Foulis, Deana MacDonald, Gabriella Ogg, Ondrea Caddy, Hollie Thomas
Front row: Alison Finigan, Tim Gray, Nicola Peart, Rae Katipa, Mia Boothroyd, Rin Oyanagi, Imogen McNeill
Front row: Front row (From left beside Kaeli Lalor) Marissa Whittle, Lexi Hulbert, Abbie Harrison, Natasha Leslie
Elle Chotiwanich, Celeste Lane, Lloyd Perratt, Josh Sturgeon.
Absent: Alec McLeish, Gabrielle Pan.
Absent: Mckenzie Brown and Tasmin Turner-Thomas
Front row: Caroline Hepburn-Doole (Head of Knox College), Grace Togneri, Tayla Green, Mia Boothroyd
Absent: Olivia Jowsey, Courtney-Rose Wilson
Front row: Kiri Foulis, Deana MacDonald, Gabriella Ogg, Ondrea Caddy, Hollie Thomas
Front row: Alison Finigan, Tim Gray, Nicola Peart, Rae Katipa, Mia Boothroyd, Rin Oyanagi, Imogen McNeill
Front row: Front row (From left beside Kaeli Lalor) Marissa Whittle, Lexi Hulbert, Abbie Harrison, Natasha Leslie
Elle Chotiwanich, Celeste Lane, Lloyd Perratt, Josh Sturgeon.
Absent: Alec McLeish, Gabrielle Pan.
Absent: Mckenzie Brown and Tasmin Turner-Thomas