EIT student Rosina Millman is this year's winner of the prestigious David Fine Scholarship - an award that will allow the fledgling artist to stage an exhibition showcasing her work at the Hastings Community Arts Centre.

Established by the centre's trust three years ago, the scholarship honours the memory of David Fine. It alternates each year between a top student at EIT and at Toi Marangi, the Maori visual arts school in Hastings.

Rosina was announced as the 2011 winner at a special function held at the centre and attended by Mr Fine's family, trust members and students and staff from EIT's School of Arts and Design.

The 20-year-old, a former Napier Girls' High School student, is in the second year of EIT's Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design programme.

Spatial design lecturer Mazin Bahho said EIT had a fantastic group of Level 6 students and, with such "a number of talented and skilled individuals" to choose from, the decision as to who should receive the awards had finally come down to marks.

A straight-A student, Rosina said she was grateful to all her lecturers for helping her get to where she was and also to her peers for their support. The award will give her $2500 towards her final-year fees at EIT as well as providing her with the opportunity for the exhibition, to be held in August next year.

Chairman of the Hastings Community Centre Trust Graham Linwood said the community centre had been very important to Mr Fine.

"He spent a lot of time working here with the people. He raised money for the building and he did a lot of work associated with it."

Mr Fine's son, Martin, said that while his father wasn't an artist, he had been very interested in the arts. A bank manager and great organiser, he had helped people achieve their goals and would be pleased to see art recognised by way of the annual scholarship supporting an art student.

The inaugural recipient of the award Ashton Northcott widened the scope of her exhibition, Ashton's Army, by inviting some 40 fellow EIT arts and design students to take part.