Top US Colleges Call for Three Rangi Ruru Scholars

Nearly 80 scholarship offers have been received by Rangi Ruru’s 2022 Year 13 students, including three to top US colleges. Abbey Moody, Kiera Hall and Daisy Prosser will be attending Stanford, Providence and Princeton, respectively, from next year.
Abbey has received an athletics scholarship for javelin and discus to Stanford where she will study towards a medical degree, and Kiera has received a scholarship for sprinting to Providence, where she will also study science. Daisy was accepted to Princeton where she will study neuroscience and English.
The US offers are amongst 79 received by Rangi Ruru’s 2022 leavers to universities in New Zealand and around the world, recognising students’ academic, leadership, music, sporting and cultural accomplishments.
Neuroscience and English at Princeton

Daisy’s acceptance to Ivy League Princeton comes after she received the Crimson Scholar Award in 2021, and has spent two years studying towards the American SATs alongside NCEA, as well as completing a chemistry paper and working as a PhD student’s research assistant at the University of Canterbury.
Princeton does not offer traditional scholarships, instead awarding students on a financial aid system. This will cover about 90 percent of Daisy’s tuition.
“I feel so lucky and grateful,” says Daisy, who alongside her academic achievements was a member of Rangi Ruru’s senior choir, Resolutions; a keen Speech and Drama student; in the Sustainability Council for two years and was co-head of the Environment Club in 2022.
“In general, there has just been so much support at Rangi Ruru for whatever your dreams are, no matter how random or left field, all the teachers are so supportive and help you find or follow the opportunities you need.”
Daisy says the support of Rangi Ruru’s Career and Pathways Strategist, Krissi Schumacher—from international university admission consultancy Crimson Education—was instrumental in her placement at Princeton.
“Krissi’s support was invaluable, especially sitting the SATs which are such a different test to NCEA, and writing the entry essays which are so crucial to being accepted but need to be written for an American audience.”
Daisy says Krissi also connected her with peers from Crimson around the world, as well as helped her obtain her research assistant position at UC.
“I feel so grateful to have gone to a school like Rangi Ruru where I have met so many incredible friends and teachers and had so much support around me. I am super excited for what’s to come and to work towards a career in neuroscience while also studying English which I am also passionate about.”
Javelin, Discus and Medicine at Stanford

Abbey is a national record-holder for javelin and this year represented New Zealand at the Junior World Athletics Championships in Colombia, at the Oceania champs in Australia and at the Water Polo Youth Women World Championships in Serbia.
Next year she will travel to California to take up her place at Stanford University where she will compete as a throwing athlete and study biological sciences, in the hopes of pursuing a medical career.
Abbey’s entrance to the school came through her athletics club coach, Adam Blake, who connected her with coaches and student athletes at schools in the US. She worked with Krissi for help on her entry essays and interviews, and was also offered places at Webber International University in Boston and Drake University in Iowa.
“It was a hard decision to make but I spoke to a lot of coaches and athletes who are currently over there, which helped me make the final call.
“It’s going to be such an incredible opportunity to compete and go into the NCAA and international pool they have over there. The facilities are also amazing, so I can’t wait to train in them.”
As well as her athletic and academic achievements at Rangi Ruru, Abbey is also a SOAR student; a talented art student; a Peer Support Leader, member of the Sports Council, Fitness Assistant and Head of Athletics.
Sprinting and Science at Providence

For sprinter Kiera Hall, who is in the Athletics New Zealand Performance Development Squad, her place at Providence in Rhode Island will allow her to compete alongside other athletes in her 800m speciality, while also studying towards a career in science.
“I actually started getting DMs on Instagram from schools in the US, and that’s what sparked the idea to seriously start looking into it,” she says.
“I was really impressed with the coaches and athletes at Providence, and the programme they have which is focussed on the long-term success of their athletes. I would love to have a professional running career, so this is such a great opportunity to pursue that.”
Kiera says while she instigated the application process herself, she was supported by Krissi with her entry essay—which focussed on when she broke her foot earlier this year, an injury which meant she couldn’t compete in some key events.
She says being a student athlete at Rangi Ruru gave her the opportunity to compete at regional and national events, important experience which has helped her achieve in her sport.
“Not all schools send teams to compete at those events, so having the opportunity to race and go together as a team, and everyone being encouraged to have a go is what got me into running seriously.
“All of my teachers and the sports staff always ask me how I am going and if I need anything, and SOAR was really good for educating us about nutrition and training and women’s health.”
Well-Rounded Success
Rangi Ruru Girls’ School Principal Dr Sandra Hastie says the recognition is testament to each student’s hard work and perseverance not just in their sports and studies, but across all areas of their lives.
“Abbey, Kiera and Daisy have all contributed a great deal to school life at Rangi Ruru, not just in the classroom and on the sports track—but have exemplified our school values of manaakitanga and enthusiasm and endeavour.
“All three students have worked extremely hard for these opportunities, supported by many wonderful teachers, coaches and staff, and we are delighted as a school to see them achieve their goals.”
Hastie says the number of scholarships achieved by 2022’s Year 13 cohort is wonderful recognition for each student’s achievements during their time at Rangi Ruru, as well as their motivation and commitment to co-curricular, leadership, service and cultural activities.
“We are also thrilled to see our Careers and Pathways programme connecting students to such rewarding—and diverse—opportunities as they take their next steps after high school.”
This year’s impressive scholarship offers follow equally strong numbers in 2021, when 75 were received, and in 2020 when more than 80 were.