Tom McCondach-Burke BE(Hons) Class of 2021
While it takes some people a bit to figure out what they want to do with their lives, that definitely hasn’t been the case for Tom McCondach-Burke, from his days in the sandpit, to becoming a Staples Education Scholarship awardee and Dilworth Old Boy, he has had an interest in how things work and a particular fascination with diggers!
"As a kid, I just loved taking things apart and working out how they worked”, says Tom.
Recently, Tom’s long-held ambition to become an engineer became a reality as he graduated from the University of Auckland with a degree in Engineering, with honours. It’s a massive achievement for a young man whose journey began twelve years ago, when he first walked through the gates of Dilworth School as a nervous Year 6 boy.
We caught up with Tom, his Mum, Grandma and mentor Jack Robertson on a visit back to visit Dilworth for a morning tea to celebrate his graduation.
Tom’s story is one of focus, determination and commitment to personal excellence – with plenty of mateship and good fun along the way, as he tells it!
Starting at Dilworth
Coming from rural Helensville in North West Auckland, Tom found boarding at Dilworth a massive shift. "Scary at the start," he commented, "but it was definitely a new challenge, and I soon loved it."
At school, his natural ability in maths and science quickly steered him onto the STEM pathway. Here, the idea of a pathway into engineering was fostered by passionate teachers, such as Mr Milne, his physics and electronics teacher at the time. "He was always so enthusiastic, and class was fun and so practical”, he recalls.
Outside class time, Dilworth provided a great community that Tom said shaped his character. He reflected on many outings and adventures, particularly at the (then) rural campus at Mangatāwhiri - "that taught the students independence and forged lifelong friendships”.
Tom says he originally considered a career in quantity surveying, but a timely intervention from the school’s careers advisor prompted him to consider other possibilities. He recalls the conversation: “Engineering will open up so many more doors for you.” How right that advice turned out to be for Tom.
The Staples Education Foundation Scholarship.
In his last year at Dilworth in 2021, Tom applied for many external scholarships to help fund his tertiary education. He secured several, but he says the Staples Education Foundation (SEF) Scholarship was the one that truly transformed his university experience.
“Receiving a SEF scholarship was definitely more than just financial support; it showed me that Staples believed in my potential and was willing to help me with every step of not only my University journey, but also my career afterwards. The scholarship eased the financial pressure of working more in a part-time job and allowed me to focus”
Moving into a university halls brought an exciting but intimidating amount of freedom. "Coming from Dilworth, where it was very structured - you're supposed to be here at this time, there at that time," Thomas says. "Getting into university was scary. Time management was very tricky at the start."
SEF stepped in to fill the gap, providing a holistic support system that went far beyond financial aid. Fortnightly meetings with SEF's General Manager, Karen Bennett, provided a crucial chance to de-stress, map out deadlines, and learn real-world time management. Tom was assigned a ‘Buddy’, he was paired with Braden Dyer, a third-year civil engineering student who mentored him through the tricky logistics of university papers.
Then he was teamed up with Jack Robertson, his mentor. Being close in age, they formed a tight bond, and it saw Jack even introduce Tom to the art of homebrewing, which he turned into a fun side business making cider in his dorm room! Perhaps more importantly, however, Tom says Jack also guided him through the high-pressure demands of his final-year Honours dissertation.
“Having Jack as my mentor was a really cool experience, he helped me navigate the ropes of the challenging degree, was a great friend to chat to when things got tricky during it, and taught me some really valuable skills (including entrepreneurship!)”.
Pioneering a Path at Fulton Hogan
Through the networking and work opportunities facilitated by SEF, Thomas secured an internship with civil contracting giant Fulton Hogan at the end of his first year of university.
There, Tom absolutely set out to prove himself. His managers were so impressed by the work ethic that they nominated him for the prestigious Fulton Hogan Scholarship, which he was awarded, making him the first SEF student to receive this scholarship and pursue this specific pathway.
By the time he finished university, Tom had already clocked up an incredible 2,400 hours of practical work experience. He walked straight into a guaranteed two-year graduate programme, completely bypassing the stressful job-hunting phase that often accompanies the end of university.
And if you’ve driven past the Auckland International Terminal recently, Tom says you’ll likely have driven right past his office! As a newly minted Graduate Engineer at Fulton Hogan, he is currently helping to project-manage the construction of the new airport pick-up and drop-off roads.
Just a few weeks ago, he was named Engineer of the Month at Fulton Hogan’s Airport Project – a big deal and honour for a recent graduate like Tom, perhaps unsurprising given this young man’s proven focus and work ethic.
Looking Forward
With an Honours degree under his belt and a clear career path ahead of him, Tom is incredibly grateful for the launchpad he was given.
When asked what he would say to Year 13 Dilworth students currently looking at their scholarship options, his advice is simple:
“Any student receiving the SEF scholarship should feel extremely fortunate. You’ve worked so hard to receive it and do not take it for granted. SEF will provide you with a network of incredible people who want to ensure that you succeed, so take every opportunity that they give you and put the effort into those opportunities, as it could lead you to something great”.
To his benefactor, Haydn Staples, and the entire SEF team, Thomas offers a massive thank you. "It’s been a wild ride with lots of ups and downs, but the support of Staples has been a massive blessing. It transformed me into someone truly independent and taught me how to connect with people to grow properly."