Milking cows, patrolling beaches, and cleaning colleges are some of the jobs local students have tackled this summer as they look to save for university.

But an easier way to boost their study savings has just come the way of 18 students, thanks to the Bay of Plenty Education Trust.

Bay of Plenty Education Trust scholarship recipient Emma Rauhala has been milking cows this summer to pay for university.

Last week, 12 Western Bay of Plenty, along with six Eastern Bay students, were presented with a Bay of Plenty Education Trust Science, Technology and Emerging Industries Scholarship, each valued at $5750.

The Bay of Plenty Education Trust awards scholarships annually to students from colleges along the region's coastline. This year 18 scholarships have been awarded, with a total value of $103,500. The total granted since the scholarship was established in 2000 is nearing the $1 million mark.

The Western Bay recipients are Hayley Steel of Aquinas College, Rachel Murray of Bethlehem College, Holly White of Katikati College, Marina Wilson and Rhiannon Rogers of Mount Maunganui College, Tim Hoekstra and Nicholas Jeffares of Otumoetai College, Nico Kahne and Sean Crawford of Tauranga Boys' College, Melanie Duff and Jenna Curtis of Tauranga Girls' College and Emma Rauhala of Te Puke High School.

Emma, who is the daughter of Ilkka and Marie Rauhala and Te Puke High School's 2014 Proxime Accessit, says being chosen as a scholarship recipient was significant.

'This really is pretty cool,” she says. 'It will help a lot, especially because of the cost of living away from home for three years. I will be able to add it to the money I made milking over the summer.”

The amount awarded by the Bay of Plenty Education Trust has increased over the years, and the total granted since the scholarship began stands at $963,750. Two scholarships are awarded each year to the larger colleges and to date 219 scholars have been announced.

The trust, headed by Tauranga's Roger Loveridge, is a charitable organisation established in 1985 to identify, fund and develop educational opportunities for young students in the coastal Bay of Plenty region. The Trust also runs leadership programmes for senior secondary school students.

The Eastern Bay scholarship recipients are Matthew Southall and Monique Jackson of Trident High School, Daniel Everett of Whakatane High School, Daniel Renata of Edgecumbe College, Darryl-Lea Greenfield of Tarawera High School and Kaysea Cronin of Opotiki College.

Bay of Plenty Education Trust scholarship recipients. Back (left to right) : Emma Rauhala, Rhiannon Rogers, Nicholas Jeffares, Nico Kahne and Hayley Steel. Front: Sean Crawford, Melanie Duff, Marina Wilson, Jenna Curtis, Holly White and Rachel Murray.