Loving her first year of Bachelor of Recreation and Sport studies, waka ama paddler Olivia Mador-Puna feels lucky to have been awarded an EIT Elite Sportsperson Scholarship.

From Gisborne and a former boarder at Sacred Heart College in Napier, Olivia is one of six current EIT students to have received the prestigious scholarship, which is jointly supported by EIT and Sport Hawke's Bay. Olivia is also the recipient of a Year 13 Study Grant.

"It's amazing," says the 18-year-old. "I probably couldn't have come to EIT without them."

Olivia first tried her hand at paddling outrigger canoes when she was at Gisborne Intermediate School, when she and other students were offered the opportunity to try different sports.

Slow to choose, she and a friend found paddling outrigger canoes was the last option left to them. They decided to give it a try, and the friend was then invited to turn up at the local Horouta Waka Hoe Club.

Olivia, miffed about being overlooked, tagged along and she was the one to stay on the course while her friend dropped out after a couple of training sessions. Once she'd notched a few wins, Olivia was hooked.

It is a demanding sport, and Olivia admits there were more than a few times she felt like giving it away, but thanks to Kiwi Campbell, her coach of six years, she is on the up.

She now appreciates that extra effort was needed to make her a more confident competitor.

Kiwi herself is a regular at EIT Tairawhiti, where she has worked for eight years, working a variety of positions, but most recently as coordinator of the Star and Gateway programmes, as well as being responsible for student recruitment and liaising with high schools.

"Waka ama is just as intensive as other sports," says the award-winning coach. "It's quite full on. Training is twice a day, six days a week, so it's a huge commitment."