“MITO wholeheartedly congratulates our 2018 scholarship recipients,” says MITO Chief Executive Janet Lane. “The significant number of high-calibre applicants only serves to reiterate the significance of their achievement and we are pleased that they can be deservedly recognised with a MITO scholarship. We look forward to supporting them through their training programmes and on to successful and rewarding careers.”

With the introduction of 24 months of fees-free industry training for eligible learners, some Kick Start scholarship recipients will have their funding transferred to underwrite their fees for their third year of training.

The 2018 scholarship recipients are in six categories:

The Kick Start scholarships were awarded to individuals who were full-time students in 2017 at either secondary school, a polytechnic or a private training establishment, and had full-time employment or an offer of full-time employment in one of MITO's industries in 2018. The scholarship contributes $1,000 towards the fees for any MITO apprenticeship or traineeship programme at Level 4 or above. The recipients are:

· Jack Pedler, Agricentre South Ltd, Invercargill

· Mitchell Durry, Agricentre South Ltd, Gore

· Thomas MacDonald, Agricentre South Ltd, Gore

· Gregory Cross, Auto Sparks Ltd, Ashburton

· Shontae Ellmers, Autotech Waipukurau Limited, Waipukurau

· Fraser Pattie, Babbage & McCullough, Timaru

· Bryn Dunnett, Christies Diamond Auto Ltd, Gore

· Luke Roder, Douglas Automotive & Engineering Ltd, Rotorua

· Samuel McAtamney, Drummond & Etheridge Limited, Ashburton

· Liam King, Giltrap AgriZone, Otorohanga

· Stephanie Pinker, GWD Toyota Alexandra, Alexandra

· Ray Lo Htun, Lance Keall Auto Repairs Ltd, Palmerston North

· Harrison Johnstone, Leamington Motor Services 2007 Ltd, Cambridge

· Jordan Kelly, MGM Auto 2014 Ltd, Gore

· Jayden Towgood-Brown, Rob Walker Spraypainters & Smash Repairers, Masterton

· Blake Smith, Tony Fabish Panelworks Ltd, Te Awamutu

· Reese Hogarth, Tony Fabish Panelworks Ltd, Te Awamutu

· Dejuan Jones, Transport Services, Te Puke

· Thomas Hargroves, Truck Chief Ltd, Hastings

· Zayde Pentecost, Waipukurau Motors 2006 Ltd, Waipukurau

· Michael Ward, Wairarapa Diesel Services Ltd, Masterton

· Jed Stancliffe, West Auckland Engine Reconditioners, Auckland

· Harry Parker, Timaru Yamaha, Timaru

The Kick Start Māori and Pasifika scholarships were awarded to individuals of Māori or Pasifika ethnicity who were full-time students in 2017 at either secondary school, a polytechnic or a private training establishment, and had full-time employment or an offer of full-time employment in one of MITO's industries in 2018. The scholarship contributes $1,000 towards the fees for any MITO apprenticeship or traineeship programme at Level 4 or above. The recipients are:

· Nathan Hayden, B G Automotive, Tauranga

· Mason Robbie, Hutt Automatics Ltd, Lower Hutt

· Jackeanne Puhia, Kelly Automotive Services Limited, Hastings

· Jack MacPherson, Peter Long Collision Repairs, Palmerston North

The MITO Alumni scholarships were awarded to individuals who had completed a qualification at Level 4 or above through MITO and wished to continue their studies. This scholarship contributes up to $2,000 towards any advanced programme of study related to their industry. The recipients are:

· Matthew Clark, NZ Marshalling & Stevedoring Ltd, Mount Maunganui

· David Fox, Wade Collision Repair 2011 Limited, Hamilton

The Business Skills scholarships were awarded to current or aspiring managers or supervisors in one of MITO’s industries and pays for the programme fees for MITO's First Line Management programme. The recipients are:

· Tayla Harris, Cambridge Automotive 2017 Ltd, Cambridge

· Darren Mathieson, City Collision Repairs, Hastings

· Rhodes Logan, Cockram Nissan, Christchurch

· Chien Chao, Davies and Naylor (1986) Ltd, Onehunga

· Rebecca Dixon-Paver, Edwards Panel and Paint Ltd, Wellington

· Rhys Drinkwater, Hamilton Panel Works 1963 (Ltd), Hamilton

· Juanita Botha, Heavy Trucks Ltd, Hornby

· Dale Finlayson, J. A. Ward Panel & Paint Ltd, Christchurch

· Chris Wildey, Mag & Turbo Tyre & Service Centre, Christchurch

· Kevin Graham, Mag & Turbo Tyre & Service Centre, Christchurch· Adam Whitehead, Mr Apple NZ Ltd, Hastings· Richard Bowler, Northern Tractor Services Ltd, Rangiora· Josephine Baas, Peter Long Collision Repairs Ltd, Palmerston North· Ashwinder Singh, Precision Autowerk, Auckland· Joshua Barnard, Team Hutchinson Ford, Christchurch· Bradley Quay, Wadsco MotorWorld, Blenheim· Timothy Mackenzie, Wilmac Transport Services Ltd, Paraparaumu

The Business Skills Māori and Pasifika scholarships were awarded to current or aspiring managers or supervisors in one of MITO’s industries who are of Māori or Pasifika ethnicity and pays for the programme fees for MITO's First Line Management programme. The recipients are:

· Nikita Donovan, Jim Wright Nissan, Te Rapa

· Miringa Tere, JMIA Automotive Service Limited, Hastings

The Clyde Cunningham QSM Memorial scholarship was awarded to a MITO automotive graduate in the Hawke’s Bay region and honours a long-standing MITO employee. The scholarship pays for the first year fees for MITO’s Level 5 automotive programme or the fees for MITO's First Line Management programme. The recipient is:

· Zak Jackson, Mills Honda, Waipukurau

| A MITO release  ||  February 16, 2018   |||