Acorn Foundation and Bay of Plenty Clinical
School Student Hardship Grant awarded
By BOP Clinical School Business Leader,
Sarah Strong.
The BOP Clinical School and the Acorn
Foundation formed a partnership to support
medical students and established a Hardship
Grant in 2007. This year five applications were
received from both University of Auckland and
University of Otago students. Both students
have had part-time employment to help
support their study and have also contributed
considerably to the community in volunteer
capacities.
The two successful applicants are:
• Mitchell Hopping a fifth year student with the University of
Auckland. Mitch’s family lives in Mt Maunganui and he is
an active member of the Tauranga Triathlon Club, Tauranga
Cycling Club, the Mount Fishing club and Ocean Sports Club
as well as another small cycling team called Psykil.
•
Kimiko Withrington was Head Girl at Tauranga Girls College in
2013 and is now in her third year of medical school in Otago.
Kimiko previously worked part-time as a kayak tour guide and
supervisor at Waimarino Adventure Park and her involvement
in school-based activities in Tauranga such as the World Vision
School, led her to become involved in numerous groups in
the Otago community, including the World Vision Otago Youth
Support Network.
From Kimiko
“The Acorn Foundation and Bay
of Plenty Clinical School Student
Hardship Grant has been such a
lifesaver. It was a huge help for
keeping up with rent expenses
over summer and will allow me
to really focus on continuing my
medical studies at Otago University
this year. The grant couldn't have
come at a better time and I am so
grateful to have been chosen as a
recipient.”
From Mitch
“I am writing to thank you for the
generous Acorn and Bay of Plenty
Clinical School Student Hardship
Grant. I was very happy and
appreciative to learn that I was
selected as the recipient of your
grant. I am currently a fifth year
medical student at the University of
Auckland and I will graduate from
my degree in late 2017. Thanks
to the Acorn Hardship Grant, I am
one step closer to that goal. By
awarding me the grant, you have
lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on
the most important aspect of school, learning. Your generosity has
inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope
one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as
you have helped me.”
In memory of Dr John Mark – the history
of the Hardship Grant
The grant was initiated in 1976 at the
suggestion of the Bay of Plenty branch of the
New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) and
a group of Tauranga doctors. The fund was
established in memory of Dr John Mark, who
was a well-known and respected local general
practitioner until the 1950s. The grant was set
up to help financially disadvantaged medical
students from the Bay of Plenty region. The
NZMA administered the fund and in 1998 the
first grant of $300 was approved.
The hardship grant helped several medical students over the
years but by 2007 with many of the original committee retiring;
it was felt that it would be better administered by the Acorn
Foundation. The Trust was wound up and the new Bay of Plenty
Medical Students Scholarship fund was established with Acorn.
In 2009 the assets of the Bay of Plenty Post-Graduate Medical
Foundation Trust were added to this fund, which is now helping
to train the next generation of doctors in this region, continuing Dr
John Mark’s legacy.
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