Seven Western Bay of Plenty students have been awarded the 2025 Bob & Joy Owens Scholarships, each receiving $15,000 over three years to support their tertiary studies.

The scholarship recognised both their academic achievement and service to their schools and community.

Liam Smythe from Ōtūmoetai College, who will study mechatronics engineering at the University of Waikato, said the scholarship represents more than financial support.

“This scholarship means more to me than financial assistance alone. It represents recognition of my hard work, perseverance and aspirations for the future.

“Knowing that people like Bob and Joy Owens and the Acorn Foundation have invested in the education and success of students inspires me to give back in the same way someday.”

The Bob & Joy Owens Scholarships were established in 1993 by Bob and Joy Owens through the Owens Charitable Trust.

Since then, the awards have supported generations of local students, helping them achieve their academic and career goals.

In 2020, the Owens Charitable Trust transferred administration to the Acorn Foundation, strengthening the programme’s long-term sustainability and continuing Bob and Joy’s legacy of supporting local students.

On December 11, the successful students were honoured at a celebration hosted by the Acorn Foundation at The Balcony Room in the Historic Village, Tauranga.

At the celebration, 1994 scholarship recipient Vanessa Winning shared her remarkable journey with the new recipients.

Winning described how the scholarship enabled her to balance young motherhood with tertiary study, ultimately completing an economics degree and postgraduate qualification in marketing.

She now serves as a director at the Ministry for Primary Industries, exemplifying the long-term impact of the Owens’ vision to invest in local students.

The following individuals have been awarded the 2025 Bob & Joy Owens Scholarship:

Tauranga Girls’ College: Amelia Ellis, Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology.

Tauranga Boys’ College: Harry Perry, Bachelor of Laws conjoint with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in international relations and Japanese.

Mount Maunganui College: Jayden McQueen, Bachelor of Laws at Victoria University of Wellington.

Te Puke High School: Jules Delaere, Bachelor of Engineering at University of Canterbury.

Aquinas College: Noah Ball, Bachelor of Software Engineering at Victoria University of Wellington.

Bethlehem College: Emily Flores, Bachelor of Laws at University of Otago.

Ōtūmoetai College: Liam Smythe, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in mechatronics at University of Waikato.

The Acorn Foundation congratulates the 2025 recipients and looks forward to supporting their academic journey and future contributions to the Western Bay community.