Gabriel Mulder – Richard James Memorial Scholarship

GABRIEL MULDER – winner of the Richard James Memorial Scholarship! Gabriel is an exceptional academic from Tauhara College in Taupo, and has been accepted for Pre-Med study at Auckland University. This will support Gabriel’s ambition to qualify as a Doctor, with an aspiration to specialise in psychiatry. Gabriel’s also a stand-out LGBTI+ leader in the Taupo community. This started at intermediate school when he researched and delivered two presentations on LGBTI+ Rights to students & faculty. He also led the way at high-school including co-ordination of Day of Silence, and successfully petitioned for gender-neutral bathrooms. Gabriel also started the first LGBTI+ social support group for the wider Taupo youth community – Rainbow Rocks. The Trust ‘s Scholarship interview panel was inspired by Gabriel’s story and delighted to offer him the Richard James Memorial Scholarship. Richard was widely known and loved by our community. We lost him suddenly last year while he was holidaying overseas, and a fund was quickly arranged to bring him home. A small surplus of money remained, and the idea to create a one-off scholarship in Richie’s name was unanimously agreed. The gift would have appealed to Richie who was a kind, generous, funny and unassuming man. The legacy of those qualities has now passed to the next generation and found the perfect recipient. We wish Gabriel every success in life and career – carry the light forward my friend.