Shaun Denny

Shaun’s volunteer activities allowed him to put the knowledge from his studies into practice and gain hands-on experience while supporting his peers.

LLB/BCom Management
Wellington Plus Award

Initially, Shaun joined Wellington Plus to strengthen his CV, and to gain recognition for the mentoring he was doing on campus. His plan was to attain the Certificate level, however, as he progressed within the programme, his goal quickly transformed into attaining the Award.

Shaun volunteered as a Law Student Mentor many times through the Victoria Law Students’ Society (VUWLSS), the Dentons Kensington Swan mentoring programme, Pasifika Student Support and Āwhina. Mentoring enabled Shaun to develop and refine his leadership and communication skills. He found that supporting other students academically was a rewarding experience and helped make his transition into paid tutoring easier. Networking with the Āwhina programme staff even led to an internship at a consulting firm during his studies. Shaun also learnt to think from a multicultural perspective, which he sees as extremely important in the workplace. In addition, Shaun further supported students as a Disability Services Note-taker for multiple classes.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Shaun became involved in Ignite Consultants and the Wellington Student Volunteer Army. He helped to connect those in need with volunteers and worked with a teammate to create an automated request system, putting his legal skills into practice.

Another benefit of Wellington Plus for Shaun was that it encouraged him to take up the opportunities offered at University. Prior to the programme Shaun says he would not have attended workshops, but after attending some for his Wellington Plus requirements, this became something that he frequently did.

Shaun says that by volunteering regularly during his studies on top of a busy study and work schedule, he became more organised, better able to prioritise his time and well prepared for the workforce.

“During my time progressing towards the Wellington Plus Award, I have made many new friends, developed new skills, and explored multiple great opportunities offered at the University.”