Teen with a love of boats
A teenager with a love of all things boating and a talent for football has been accepted into a prestigious marine engineering programme at a university in Canada.
Cameron King, 19, was scouted by National Scouting Report (NSR), an American company that searches abroad for sporting talent for American universities.
King, who was named most valuable player in ACG Strathallan’s First XI football team last year, completed a successful application process which involved submitting photos and video footage of his football games and a football trial.
But his choice of academic course posed a challenge for the company, which was unable to find a suitable marine engineering programme in the United States.
Instead, NSR secured him a place at the Marine Institute of Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada.
It is the first time NSR looked at universities outside the United States for a candidate.
King will play football for the university’s men’s soccer team, the Sea Hawks,
He also had to satisfy academic requirements in maths and physics to secure the spot.
The Waiau Pa local grew up in a boating family and wanted to pursue a career on the water.
‘‘I have always loved being on or around boats, and I’ve always had a knack for problem solving and putting pieces together.
‘‘Originally I was planning on being a boat builder, but through this opportunity to go overseas, I changed to marine engineering,’’ he said.
The hands-on, four-year course will see him learn about the mechanical operation of vessels, naval architecture, and the control of ship’s systems.
Over the course of his studies he will spend 180 days at sea.
He said that he has his sights firmly set on a future on and around the ocean.
‘‘I would love to be travelling the world doing my job, whether it’s on a container ship, a cruise liner, or a private yacht, he said.
‘‘I want to have not only excelled at being an engineer but also learn other aspects of the marine industry, such as navigating, and possibly build some small craft as well.’’
King will head over to Canada at beginning of August for pre-season training.
His first semester starts in September.