University of Waikato Alumni Association
Masters Scholarship
Prizes for Excellence

Masters Scholarship
The University of Waikato Alumni Association Masters Scholarship fund was established by the Alumni Association (Te Rauika Pukenga) in 1998 with funding raised through the use of the University's VISA affinity card. The fund provides support for students who have graduated with a degree of the University of Waikato and are enrolled their final year of study for a Masters degree at this University. The scholarship is $5,000 plus up to $4,000 for fees.

The University of Waikato Alumni Association Masters Scholarship will be awarded to a student:

• who demonstrates academic merit;
• who demonstrates academic merit who is active in University affairs and who contributes to the activities of the School in which they are enrolled;
• who demonstrates willingness to attend Alumni Association functions and promotional activities; and
• who is considered to be a good ambassador for the University of Waikato and the Alumni Association.

Candidates for the Scholarship must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand.

All students wishing to be considered for the Alumni Scholarship must apply on the official application form by 31 October in the year preceding tenure. For further information contact the Scholarships office 07 838-4964, fax 07 838-4600, or email scholarships@waikato.ac.nz.

University of Waikato Alumni Prizes for Excellence
The University of Waikato Alumni Association Prizes are offered in alternative years with the Alumni Masters Scholarship and were introduced in 2003. They are intended to celebrate excellence university-wide.

Seven prizes, with a value of $500 each, are available - one for each School/Faculty of Study. The prizes will be awarded to the top ranked student academically, based on their first year of University study or equivalent and who is currently continuing with second year studies. No application for the prize is required.

Professor Ted Zorn WMS

Alumnus Award In Management Communication

The Annual Ted Zorn Alumni Award for Management Communication celebrates MCom graduates outstanding achievements in communication management roles.

MCom graduates are encouraged to nominate themselves, or classmates, friends or professional colleagues who have achieved academic qualifications in MCom and have distinguished themselves in serving the profession and society.

"We need to better connect to our alumni and recognize their success in implementing the principles that we teach." This is how Professor Ted Zorn explains his decision to donate funds for an annual award to a graduate of Management Communication in the Waikato School of Management . "MCom has always emphasised practice informed by theory and research but our graduates learn to appreciate it, eventually, only when they become practitioners and managers. We want them to be part of our network and inspire our students and faculty. We want to recognise those who were able to raise the standards of the profession by using the values of sustainability and ethics that we teach."

Within 10 years the Management Communication department has become a leader in its field. Four professors, two Associate Professors and six Ph.D.s are included in the department's staff members. Their high quality publications, books and editorships of internationally renowned research journals have been recently recognized by high PBRF rankings. Their achievements and contribution to the discipline have given MCom an international reputation and attracted leading academics as visitors from around the world.

Yet, it was very difficult to predict that status in the early 90's when a few faculty were struggling to convince the Management School that managers need more than business writing skills. The first MCom chairperson Professor Margaret McLaren moved to Management from the English department and planted the seeds in 1987 by introducing a "Business Communication" course which she says "remains a basic and major skill for the educated person and deserves a place of honor within the school and within the university". When a department was established in 1993, it offered a new major subject "to prepare students for careers in organisation communication, public relations and professional writing". Professor Shirley Leitch , was a senior lecturer when the department was established and became its chairperson in 1995 for a term of three years. She had the vision of creating, as she puts it, "a world class department that was staffed by leading researchers and produced the best graduates who could compete with the best internationally". Professor Leitch recruited the American scholar Professor Ted Zorn who succeeded her as chairperson. His leadership enhanced the research strength of the department especially when he became editor of the Management Communication Quarterly journal. Professor Judy Motion joined the school in 1991 as assistant lecturer, completed her MMS and Ph.D. studies in the department, and became the first New Zealand Ph.D. in Public Relations. Professor Juliet Roper and Dr. Prue Holmes both joined in 1992 and, like Judy, completed their MMS and Ph.D. in the department.  Since then Drs. Nittaya Campbell , Debashish Munshi , and Fabrice Desmarais have all gained their Ph.Ds as MCom students. Thus the department has several alumni on its staff with more to come.

In 2005 the department had 13 full time permanent academic staff members.  In addition to these mentioned above are Associate Professor Kay Weaver, Dr. Cheryl Cockburn-Wootten,  Michel Schoenberger-Orgad , Mary Simpson and Dr Margalit Toledano .

MCOM staff today holds several significant and prestigious external research grants between them. These staff members include Ted, Judy, Juliet, Prue and Kay.

According to Professor Leitch, "The primary reason for the ongoing success of Management Communication has been the quality of the people associated with it". Current chairperson Professor Juliet Roper agrees and adds that "Including the Alumni in our programme is a high priority for MCom, and we hope that this award will encourage more of our graduates to become involved in networking with each other, mentoring students, and setting new standards for corporate and public communication".

The annual Ted Zorn Award celebrates MCom graduates outstanding achievements in communication management roles. The regulations, nomination forms and awards announcements are available by emailing jbeaton@waikato.ac.nz

MCom graduates are encouraged to nominate themselves, or classmates, friends or professional colleagues who have achieved academic qualifications in MCom and have distinguished themselves in serving the profession and society.