Engineering a change

27 year-old Savannah comes from a landlocked town in Colorado, USA. Previously working as a graphic designer, it wasn’t until Savannah volunteered on a medical ship whilst travelling in New Zealand that she discovered a new calling: marine engineering.  

“I wanted a change, so I came to New Zealand for six months,” Savannah says. “I volunteered as a cook on the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) KOHA vessel and realised how much I enjoyed working with the engineers.” 

Starting her learning journey in 2020 with a STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) course, Savannah persevered through Covid-19 disruptions to gain all necessary certifications, including NMIT’s highest marine engineering qualification, the internationally recognised Diploma in Marine Engineering Class 3 and Class 4.(external link) 

“I have friends who have completed their training at NMIT, and they highly recommended it,” Savannah says. “The only other place in New Zealand I could have studied is Auckland, but I much prefer to be living in Nelson.” 

With her eyes set on the future, Savannah is preparing to rejoin the next YWAM KOHA tour, offering critical dental services to Fiji and other Pacific Island communities. 

Savannah encourages anyone who is interested in a similar career path to persevere and adapt to the challenges. 

"If you want it, you’ve got to put your nose down and work hard. At the end of the day, it's on you to succeed," she says. 

Learn more about our maritime engineering programmes.(external link)