Isabella Jones
2024 Scholarship Recipient
Isabella Jones is a driven and talented Year 12 student at St Catherine’s College in Wellington, with a strong sense of identity and ambition. The daughter of a single working mother and older sister to her younger brother, Isabella has grown up understanding responsibility, resilience and the importance of whānau. Her close relationship with her brother, along with her experiences navigating life with limited family support, has shaped her independence and determination to succeed.
Academically, Isabella sets high standards for herself, earning an Excellence endorsement in NCEA Level 1. She is actively involved in her school community, serving on the senior debate team and contributing to the magazine committee as an editor for the past two years. A dedicated musician, Isabella has played piano since the age of nine and continues to develop her skills through formal study at college.
Isabella aspires to study software engineering at university, with Canterbury University a top choice for its leading computer engineering programme. She sees scholarship support as essential to alleviating financial pressures, allowing her to focus fully on her studies, gain work experience, and benefit from mentorship as she navigates university life, an opportunity her mother, who did not attend university, cannot fully provide.
If selected, Isabella will become the first woman in her mother’s family to earn a university degree. With her academic excellence, creative talents, and unwavering determination, she is ready to take the next step toward a future in software engineering while carrying her whānau with her every step of the way.