Unlocking Futures Through First Foundation
Two more Dreamers have been awarded First Foundation Scholarships to support their tertiary education pathways. These grants alleviate financial stress, and provide extensive support, allowing students to concentrate on their studies and personal development.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room at the First Foundation 2025 Awards Ceremony in Auckland when Awatea Poutai’s father, Wayne, performed a powerful haka in honour of his son’s achievement.
Awatea, Tikipunga High School Head Boy and I Have a Dream (IHAD) Dreamer, along with fellow Year 13 student and Dreamer Trent Bowater, were among 91 exceptional students from across Aotearoa awarded the prestigious First Foundation Scholarship.
First Foundation is a charitable trust dedicated to promoting educational success for young New Zealanders from disadvantaged backgrounds. This unique 4-year scholarship offers extensive support, including mentoring, leadership training, pastoral care, and paid work experience. It’s designed as a hand-up, not a hand-out, with a strong focus on culturally responsive support.
These young people can then go on to inspire their siblings, wider family, and communities to do the same and help create some societal change.
This aligns with IHAD, with both organisations aiming to assist students in navigating their educational journeys through ongoing mentoring and access to opportunities they typically would not have.
Since partnering with First Foundation, four Dreamers have been awarded scholarships to support their tertiary education. These grants alleviate financial stress, allowing students to concentrate on their studies and personal development.
After visiting Dunedin with I Have a Dream last year, Awatea and Trent were inspired to study in Otago next year. Awatea has chosen to attend Otago Polytechnic to study Product Design, while Trent is still deciding whether to study medicine at either Otago or Auckland University, with the goal of further specialisation as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon.
Explore more milestones, stories, and impact highlights from the past year in our 2024 Annual Report.
In addition to their whānau, their Navigator, Lucia Kotze, Tikipunga High School Principal Emma Leyland, IHAD CEO Shane Gorst, and Funding and Partnership Manager Jodie Hannam were all present at the event to cheer them on. Jodie described the experience as deeply inspirational.
“First Foundation changes lives. We’re incredibly fortunate to partner with them. Their support extends beyond financial assistance, offering students valuable connections and networks that help them succeed long after they complete their studies,” she said.
Jodie said the ceremony was not only an unforgettable experience but Trent, Awatea, and their whānau were accommodated by the First Foundation at the Cordis in Auckland last night and the following day they had seminars and networking events to go to.
Looking ahead, Jodie shared that around five IHAD Dreamers will be applying for the First Foundation scholarship this year. We couldn’t be prouder of Awatea, Trent, and all our Dreamers at Tikipunga High School.
Awatea’s story as the first in his family to attend university was picked up by New Zealand Herald (NZME) and made the front page of the Northern Advocate.
Tikipunga High School Principal commented in the Awatea’s article titled Tikipunga Head Boy is living his dream:
“We are immensely proud of Awatea’s journey and growth over the past seven years at our kura. His dedication, integrity, and leadership have made a lasting impact on our school community. As Head Boy, he has embodied the values we hold dear and served as a role model for all ākonga. His success is not only a reflection of his hard work, but also a testament to the whānau, kaiako, and community who have supported him every step of the way. Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.”
Navigator Lucia Kotze said on the morning Awatea’s article went to print he asked her first thing if she had seen it. Then during second period, the Kaiako (teacher) pulled it up on the big screen and Lucia said it was one of those unforgettable moments.
“The kōrero quickly became, ‘That’s not some rich bloke from another school—that’s our very own Awa. Our head boy. Our leader.” she said.
“It’s amazing how one article can shift the narrative and uplift an entire class. Our Dreamers saw themselves in that story – and that changes everything.” Lucia said.
Awatea’s I Have a Dream mentor Dave Cotty was acknowledged and honoured in the Northern Advocate article for the positive impact has has had on Awatea’s life. Dave spent a huge amount of time with Awatea across many years, organising trips and excursions based around his interests, including meeting Sir Ian Taylor, founder of Animation Research Limited (ARL).
Dave says “I get a lot of satisfaction working with I Have a Dream. You feel like you are actually doing something worthwhile. One small thing can help someone … to help achieve a dream. Life is a lot harder now than when I grew up – people need help and you always get a warm welcome from the children. That’s why I try to persuade my mates to volunteer.”
Dave remains a strong supporter of his mentee Awatea, someone he rates as a fine young man with plenty of talent and drive.
