Autumn Brown – RNZCT / AUT Scholarship + UBIQ Voucher. Bachelor of Visual Arts, Spatial Design Major – Bachelor of Design at AUT

For the past two years Autumn has run their school’s LGBTQI+ club at St Cuthbert’s College. Providing a safe and welcoming environment for the young students as a mentor, guiding them through their journey of exploring gender and identity. Autumn says, ”Involvement with school’s LGBTQI+ club has assisted with personal growth and become more comfortable with one’s own identity, as an individual who is a part of the LGBTQI+ community, which has been a struggle”.

Autumn has been volunteering and going to Rainbow Youth’s GQ, workshops and other activities, promoting, supporting and encouraging others to also be active in the community, are central to core beliefs. Attending Pride Marches, Big Gay Out, Pride Parades and organising activities within school, i.e. Pink Shirt Day fundraising and donations to Rainbow Youth.

Their future goal is to gain a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts at AUT and then go into the photography field. Desiring to either go into wedding photography or fashion photography.

Support from RNZCT Scholarship enables Autumn to fulfil a career dream and continue LGBTQI+ involvement, so that they can continue to help and support other young LGBTQI+ people going through a hard time and help them grow as people.

Autumn manages challenges with maturity. Commits to doing one’s best, shows perseverance and a focused attitude to achieve sound results with setting attainable goals. By nature, self-awareness bodes well for a bright future and success at AUT, with an opportunity to thrive in a diverse and creative environment.