What is the Pauwels Flying Scholarship?
BEGIN THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE.
The scholarship is the creation of retired airline captain, John Pauwels. After nearly 50 years flying, nearly 40 of those for Air New Zealand, John wanted to give back to the school that had set him on his way so long ago – Hillmorton High School. A decile 4 school, it is a multi-cultural hub of outstanding talent and community commitment in the southwestern area of Christchurch. It didn’t take John long to appreciate that the students in this school were the talented equals of the students who attended private schooling or who had access to the one thing, Hillmorton students did not have – financial backing to achieve their loftiest dreams.
And then, we discovered Anaru. You can see the full story of the Scholarships continued below. But Anaru turned our attention to equally deserving young people who didn’t attend Hillmorton High School. The Special Award was created for Anaru and awarded to him in 2019. Now, any New Zealand citizen or permanent resident between the ages of 15 and 20 can apply for the Special Award.
Check out the pathways below to see if we can help you on your way to becoming a pilot.
The two pathways to becoming a Pauwels Flying Scholarship recipient.
Inaugurated in 2017, the scholarship is presented up to twice a year to recipients via two pathways.
The first pathway is available to students of Hillmorton High School in Christchurch.
This is John Pauwels alma mater. Applications open at the beginning of the school year and close at the end of February. Applicants are shortlisted to a select few who then undergo rigorous interviews, flight and ability assessments before a winner is identified and offered the scholarship.
As well as the financial award, the winner is presented with the handsome Pauwels Flying Scholarship trophy which has their name and year of award inscribed on the back. This is returned to the school at the end of the school year.
The second pathway is available, by application, to New Zealand citizens or residents between the ages of 15 and 20.
Candidates needs to come from an economically disadvantaged and/or underrepresented part of New Zealand’s team of five million. A selfless commitment to their community is also required, such as being part of a service group, volunteering or other participation in helping their community thrive.
Alongside the financial award, the recipient is presented with the attractive Pauwels Flying Scholarship Special Award trophy which is inscribed with their name and year of award; and is theirs to keep. The funding for this award has been greatly assisted by the Hugo Charitable Trust, the Gattung Foundation and a wonderful private sponsor. John extends his heartfelt thanks for their generosity and belief in his scholarship.
Will you, or someone you know, become a recipient?
John was increasingly aware, and uncomfortable with the fact, that the young men and women rising up through the ranks in the commercial aviation industry were the sons and daughters of wealthy families. Very few co-pilots were sharing stories of their lives being raised in middle or low income New Zealand. One skin tone, and gender, was represented more than any other by a ridiculous margin.
When John was training to become a pilot, New Zealand was a far more egalitarian society but now, being a commercial pilot seemed to only be the achievable dream of those whose families could back them financially.
This awareness of the changing social background of those privileged to fly and soar higher than anyone else did not sit well with John, who strongly remembered his own frugal beginnings in life.
After several months of contemplating what he could do about this trend and discussing it with his partner and family, John settled on a course of action… he would establish a scholarship lasting a minimum of twenty years to provide financial support to Hillmorton students who wanted to become pilots.
All great endeavours, begin with that first single step of confidence and commitment. The latter part of 2017 saw John and his partner, Melissa, assiduously put together the proposal of the scholarship, outlining its intent, scope and value.
They met with Ann Brokenshire, Principal of Hillmorton High School and she immediately said, “This scholarship will change lives”. She’s not wrong.
The first recipient of the Pauwels Flying Scholarship was Wen Seng Chen in 2018. The son of a fish and chip vendor and a campervan cleaner. A first generation New Zealander – just like John and Melissa. You can read more about Wen Seng on the “Recipients” page. However, Air New Zealand shouted him an hour in the B777 simulator in Auckland and after 30 minutes training, pulled off an immaculate landing into Los Angeles airport. The scholarship was off to an auspicious start.
Early the following year, John and Melissa attended an aviation event at West Melton airfield. It was a cold and blustery day and few people had turned up. However, a young man caught their attention. He was clearly too young to be a pilot, but he was there nonetheless, with his dedicated mother in tow, as the West Melton airfield was too far for him to bike from Hornby.
As John waited for his turn at participating in the day’s event, he struck up a conversation with the lad. His name was Anaru and he was courteous, chatty and very relaxed in the presence of the much older gathering. John was so taken by Anaru and his passion for aviation that he decided to pay for Anaru to have a flight.
Melissa spoke with his Mum and with gentle questioning, she was able to determine that Anaru had wanted to be a pilot for most of his life, that it was just Anaru and his Mum who was a hairdresser, living at home; however, he was a top student at Hornby High School, was an Air Cadet and also volunteered to run community children’s programmes. He had just started a part time job at a fast food outlet to raise funds to learn to fly.
John and Melissa knew they had found a perfect candidate for the scholarship except that he attended a different school. It wouldn’t be right to demand that he move schools so late in his education, just so he could access the scholarship. What to do?
And this is how the second pathway to scholarship came about. Anaru, after going through the same rigorous testing as the Hillmorton candidates, was awarded the inaugural Pauwels Flying Scholarship Special Award in 2019. You can read more about Anaru on the Recipients page.
JOHN PAUWELS, RETIRED PILOT AND SCHOLARSHIP BENEFACTOR