Talented young Croatian New Zealanders awarded inaugural scholarships

Talented young Croatian New Zealanders awarded scholarships (Photo: Croatian Cultural Society NZ)

Two young Croatians New Zealanders have been awarded the inaugural Davorin Ozich Youth Scholarships in recognition of their respective sporting and academic achievements.

Stipe Ukich, aged 17 years, and Mia Grgicevich, aged 20 years, were presented with scholarships of $2,500 each at a ceremony held at the Croatian Cultural Society in Te Atatu during the annual Dan Državnosti (Statehood Day) celebration on 8 June 2024. 

Ukich won the sporting category of the Scholarship prize. He is currently playing football for Auckland City FC, and has fast become a teen sporting sensation, helping the club recently claim the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) title in May.

He has also represented New Zealand in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Ukich hopes to use his scholarship funds to support his pursuit of professional football overseas, and he says he feels supported by the Croatian community.

“The aid this scholarship provides will help me grow as a person and also pursue my dream of becoming a professional footballer,” he says.

Christine Ozich, Sporting Scholarship winner Stipe Ukich, Len Stulich, Marija Batistich (Photo: Croatian Cultural Society NZ)

Grgicevich is currently studying at Rider University in New Jersey, USA, and was awarded the academic category of the Scholarship prize. Grgicevich is a student-athlete at Rider University, playing collegiate football.

However it was her academic success that particularly stood out to the scholarship panel, who commended her consistently making the College’s Dean’s List (which recognises academic success) each semester and maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.96 out of 4.00.

Grgicevich says she will use the scholarship to complete her degree in Finance.

“Receiving this award is incredibly meaningful to me,” Grgicevich says. “My culture and Croatian heritage have played a significant role in my life, and I feel honoured to represent not just myself but our entire community on this journey.”

Croatian Cultural Society of New Zealand President Len Stulich, Academic Scholarship winner Mia Grgicevich, Scholarship panel judges Christine Ozich and Marija Batistich (Photo: Croatian Cultural Society NZ)

The Davorin Ozich Youth Scholarship was launched in 2024 to recognise young Croatians in New Zealand who show talent, promise and dedication to their endeavours. It is named in honour of the late Davorin Ozich, the founding President of the Croatian Cultural Society of NZ.

Each year, $2,500 may be awarded in each of four categories: academic, sporting, entrepreneurial and cultural.

This year, the judging panel also awarded two highly commended entries, to Vito Kačurov (17 years) and Anton Vrdoljak (18 years). The panel also acknowledged the high calibre of scholarship applications overall.

Len Stulich, Christine Ozich, Highly Commended recipient Anton Vrdoljak, Stipe Ukich, Mia Grgicevich, Highly Commended recipient Vito Kačurov, Marija Batistich (Photo: Croatian Cultural Society NZ)

“The Davorin Ozich Youth Scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for the Croatian Cultural Society to support our youth and encourage them to connect with their culture and their society,” says panel judge Christine Ozich, wife of the late Davorin Ozich. “It’s really fantastic to see that the future of our culture in New Zealand is in excellent hands.”