Bachelor of Engineering, University of Canterbury
At just 17, Grace Motusaga carries herself with a calm confidence shaped by her upbringing across Samoa, Australia, and Fiji. The eldest of four children, she speaks proudly of her roots in Saleilua and Salani, and of the family who has guided her path. “Talofa lava, my name is Grace,” she shares, grounding herself first in identity. Creative at heart, she loves crafting and losing herself in books, but she is equally driven by a powerful ambition: to represent her Pasifika heritage while contributing to the future of renewable energy.
When Grace learned she had received a Milford Foundation Scholarship, she felt a wave of reassurance. “It gave me some sense of security that I will be supported through my years of tertiary studies,” she explains. The excitement extended beyond her – her family, too, felt relief knowing that “some of the financial pressure is being lifted off their shoulders.” Coming from a low income family, the scholarship means more than financial support; it offers possibility. “Without this scholarship, my parents would struggle,” she says openly, acknowledging the stability it has brought them.
Grace plans to pursue a degree that allows her to “use my hands,” ultimately dreaming of working with power grids and sustainable energy solutions. Climate responsibility is at the core of her motivation — she hopes to “find alternative ways to effectively use electricity and power sources” to slow the effects of climate change.
Grounded in faith, guided by her mother’s sacrifices, and fueled by determination, Grace describes herself simply and beautifully: “I aspire to be a beaker of hope.”
