Scholarship available across multiple disciplines takes stress off young IT enthusiast

The Gordon Chesterman Scholarship is an annual scholarship of up to $5000, available to full-time Wintec students enrolled in the School of Media Arts, Centre for Business and Enterprise, or Centre for Information Technology.

Honza Andrews, 20, was awarded the Gordon Chesterman Scholarship for 2024 thanks to his efforts in giving back to his community, giving him financial relief for his second year at Wintec.

The Waihī raised computer enthusiast is currently studying towards his degree in Information Technology (IT) and said he was very excited when he found out he won the scholarship as it “took a lot of stress off”.

Honza started his studies straight out of high school, Waihī College, and said he had always been a self-starter, working an after-school job throughout high school to pay his own way and save for Wintec.

“I chose Wintec for the more hands-on approach to learning. Rather than coming away with a degree where I sat down with a book all day, I can learn some real-world practical skills. I’ve really enjoyed the course so far; I’ve just finished the broader section and am about to start specialising in networking. The tutors have been really helpful, and I have great classmates. 

“I have supportive parents, but living away from home and moving to another city has been expensive and I can use all the help there is, so I applied for the scholarship.”

The Gordon Chesterman Scholarship was established in 2012 by Wintec in recognition of the significant contribution and valued work of long-serving Chair of Council, Gordon Chesterman. The first scholarship was awarded in 2013.

One scholarship is awarded each year and pays up to a maximum of $5,000 towards the cost of the recipient’s tuition fees in a single year of enrolment. 

Honza was awarded the scholarship because of his contribution to his local community in Waihī.

“I have always enjoyed getting out and about, to contribute towards a better future in the Waikato. Around Waihī, I have been part of groups planting wetlands, native bushes, and areas to help with natural water filtering.”

Honza said he’s been back to look at places he had helped plant and they were now thriving ecosystems that “once used to be a polluted mess. Rivers are in better condition and water quality is much cleaner”.

Honza also coached the U12 Waihī Inline Hockey team in his final few years of high school. 

“When I was in that grade, I had a coach who guided me as a new player in the sport, so that made me decide to coach and pay it forward. As Inline Hockey is a small sport in New Zealand, I encouraged other people to get involved and learn the skills, resulting in the growth of the local sport.”

Honza said he is enjoying his course and living in Hamilton.

“Hamilton gets a bad rap, but I’m enjoying it. Outside of my course I play squash and get into mountain biking. I have always enjoyed IT and I want to get into network architecture and cyber security. It’s a lot to learn, but I like to learn.”

Honza said he would recommend other students to apply for the scholarship and any other scholarships they might qualify for.

“You have nothing to lose by applying, but you could gain the finance you need. It doesn’t take much time in the scheme of things, and it can help you make your way.”

To apply for the Gordon Chesterman Scholarship, you must be a Wintec student and enrolled in the School of Media Arts, Centre for Business and Enterprise, or Centre for Information Technology. You need to be studying full-time at the time of application, be from the greater Waikato or Thames/Coromandel region and a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.