Alex Wilton thought he’d be a truck driver but has since decided to turn his hand to architecture.

There to help him on his tertiary education journey is the BOP Education Trust.

Alex heads off to begin his architecture studies at Victoria University, Wellington, this month helped on his way by BOP Education Trust Science, Technology and Emerging Industries scholarship money.  Alex will receive $6000 distributed over the years of his study.

The former ŌpōtikiCollege student, who is the son of Kylie and James Wilton, says a truck driver friend of his dad’s dissuaded him from his initial career path, suggesting instead that he consider architecture.

“He noticed I was forever drawing houses. So, at about the age of 12, I decided I wanted to do architecture,” Alex said.

Winning the scholarship was a thrill as well as a financial relief, and it was great to be acknowledged for something other than sporting prowess, he said.

Alex is also a triathlete. He has competed at NZ secondary schools’ events over the past four years and at the New Zealand nationals late last year where he finished second in his under-19 age group. Late last month, the 18-year-old won the Half Iron Man Nationals in his age group.

Alex joined four other Eastern Bay scholars at a special function held on January 30 in Whakatāne. The other newly awarded scholarship winners are: Samantha Baltazar (Edgecumbe College), Jazmin Stewart (Trident High School), Daniel Zhang and Fifi Portsmouth of (Whakatāne High School).

Nineteen scholarships were awarded by the Trust this year. Recipients of the annually awarded scholarship are from colleges along the coastal strip between Katikati and Ōpōtiki.

BOP Education Trust chairman Nick Earl says the Trust, which has been operating since 1985, is firmly committed to investing in the tertiary education of the Bay’s young people.

Over the years, 428 students have benefited from the Trust’s Scholarships, with more than $2 million gifted in supportive funding.