All Christmases have come at once for Otago Polytechnic engineering student, Ewan Baker. He’s just won a prestigious national award, AND a coveted apprenticeship at Scott Technology in Dunedin.

Ewan beat 30 other applicants from throughout the country to win the ‘2016 Bill Buckley Scholarship Award’.

The award was announced at the Maintenance Engineering Society’s annual conference in Hamilton last month.

Ewan didn’t expect to win the award at all. “I only found out I could apply two days before the closing date, but I thought I may as well. I was surprised that even though I had to rush to put together the application, my results and achievements were enough to carry me through” he says.

Lecturer, Stuart Hewson is impressed with Ewan’s accolade, “I’m not surprised though, he takes every opportunity to learn new things and gain knowledge” Mr Hewson said.

Ewan initially thought he’d study engineering at university, and signed up in Australia. But after one year, he realised Otago Polytechnic had everything he wanted.

“I love the hands on work at Otago Polytechnic, and also really enjoy the theory and design. Now that I’m working full time at Scott Technology, they also really encourage those aspects” Mr Baker said.

Ewan has completed his Certificate in Engineering (Level 3), and still has three papers left in his New Zealand Diploma in Engineering – Mechanical Engineering. He’ll finish those while working full time in 2017.

As for the future, Ewan’s taking it all in his stride. “It’s been an amazing year, with a lot happening. I think I’ll just keep my head down and move forward – that’s worked for me so far”.