Nelson Aviation College congratulates latest recipient of the prestigious Pauwels Flying Scholarship

Nelson Aviation College is delighted to announce that Luka Winz has been named a recipient of this year's highly recognised Pauwels Flying Scholarship. This esteemed award, sponsored by the Gattung foundation, supports promising young pilots across New Zealand in achieving their aviation ambitions by facilitating professional flight training at NAC.

The successful applicant, Luka Winz, presents a highly compelling profile characterised by exceptional determination, academic excellence, and significant personal resilience.

Luka managed considerable personal responsibilities from an early age, underscoring a high degree of maturity and self-reliance.

Her passion for aviation, identified early in her teenage years, led her to demonstrate extraordinary commitment by taking on full-time employment in the hospitality sector concurrently with her secondary school studies. Despite managing an external workload that frequently concluded near midnight, she consistently maintained an excellent academic record.

Beyond her academic and employment demands, Luka actively participated in various leadership and community roles. She served as a peer mentor and provided tutoring in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). She collaborated with NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) to organise School Science fairs and contributed to the School Ball Committee, demonstrating organisational skills and fiscal responsibility.

Her commitment to aviation is demonstrably profound and persistent. She systematically built her industry knowledge and network through proactive volunteering at aeroclub open days and competition events as ground crew. Crucially, she independently funded her attendance at the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School Camp in January of this year, achieving her first solo flight during the camp.

Her background illustrates a highly motivated candidate whose initiative, resilience, and proven capacity for sustained effort make her exceptionally well-prepared for the rigours of professional flight training.

Commitment to Aviation Opportunity

The Pauwels Flying Scholarship is one of New Zealand's most generous awards for aspiring aviators, offering a comprehensive training package. The scholarship covers essential flying hours, pilot theory lessons, providing crucial financial relief and expert mentorship to the winner.

The initiative, championed by benefactor John Pauwels, aims to foster greater diversity and accessibility within the professional pilot pipeline.

Training at Nelson Aviation College

As a scholarship recipient, Luka Winz will formally enrol in the highly-regarded NZ Diploma in Aviation – Airline Preparation Strand at Nelson Aviation College this August. This commencement marks the start of her professional journey toward becoming a licensed pilot. NAC is dedicated to supporting the Scholarship's mission by providing the expert instruction and dedicated professional environment required to cultivate this important talent and realise this career-defining opportunity.

We extend our sincere congratulations to Luka and look forward to supporting their development in the cockpit.

What is the Pauwels Flying Scholarship?

The scholarship is the creation of retired airline captain, John Pauwels. After nearly 50 years flying, nearly 40 of those for Air New Zealand, John wanted to give back to the school that had set him on his way so long ago – Hillmorton High School. A decile 4 school, it is a multi-cultural hub of outstanding talent and community commitment in the southwestern area of Christchurch. It didn’t take John long to appreciate that the students in this school were the talented equals of the students who attended private schooling or who had access to the one thing, Hillmorton students did not have – financial backing to achieve her loftiest dreams.

And then, John and Melissa discovered Anaru. You can see the full story of the Scholarships continued below. But Anaru turned their attention to equally deserving young people who didn’t attend Hillmorton High School. The Special Award was created for Anaru and awarded to him in 2019. Now, any New Zealand citizen or permanent resident between the ages of 15 and 20 can apply for the Special Award.