2023

Vincent Klutman

Rotorua

The Geoff Walsh Memorial Scholarship has been a privilege to accept, and has been instrumental in supporting my academic achievements.

Having completed a trade qualification before embarking on a journey through university, I had come to understand one of the realities of an industry that largely depended on a scarce supply of heavy vehicle certifiers.

As I currently head into the end of my 4th year at The University of Waikato, the Geoff Walsh Memorial Scholarship was an opportunity to turn the tide of a struggling student, into a journey of success.

After some sacrifice, tough choices, and a variety of challenges, I am now ready to take the next move in my career growth.

After some discussion with several engineers in the industry, a common theme of conversation became apparent. For those who needed to outsource certification on any heavy vehicles, the choice of certifier was fairly limited in the Bay of Plenty region. This inspired my decision to take the leap from the workforce back into education and pursue a four-year degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Balancing work, studying, and supporting my parents at home on the farm in Rotorua, meant the commute to Hamilton and Tauranga put an unsustainable financial strain on me. Securing the GWMS turned the tide and enabled me to carry on and finish my final year at university.

The future is now full of more opportunities and choices than ever. I hope to contribute a practical perspective and energetic approach to the industry as I continue to grow and develop.

Thank you for the opportunity, the support, and the inspiration to continue to grow to the level I have so far. You have not only laid the path for me, but for others who have ​been a part of my journey, who themselves seek to grow in their respective fields ​as Engineers.