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Young Achievers' Awards

RECENT AWARD WINNERS

Award-winning Youth!

Judged and hosted by young people, this event celebrates young role models in the district. By promoting the positive contributions that our youth are making, we also recognise their talent, initiative, commitment and passion to succeed - all qualities that we want to nurture and encourage in our community.

2012 Winners

ARTS AWARD

Winner: Annie Duynhoven (Sacred Heart Girls College)
She is classed by her nominator as an outstanding fashion designer and textile artist. Her passion for textiles began as a toddler and has continued to develop in her life ever since. Annie Duynhoven has been a regular entrant and finalist in the Taranaki Daily News Fashion Art Awards. In 2008 she won the Student Newspaper section and in 2010 she won the Student Glow Time section. In 2012 her entry was chosen from 327 entries to be a finalist in this year’s Brancott Estate World of Wearable Arts Awards, an international event with designers from 14 different countries representing, making her the youngest finalist at the age of 16. Annie’s garment ‘Pacific Praise’ was selected to then be a finalist in the Air New Zealand Pacific section celebrating her love for 1950s fashion and pacific tapa cloth. Her passion for creative arts is a true inspiration to many of her peers at Sacred Heart Girls College.

Highly Commended: Te Roopu Kapa Haka o Whaitara WaitaraTe Roopu Kapa Haka o Whaitara is a group who consistently present their school and community with pride. In June they travelled to Ohakune for the Pae Rangatahi Regional Secondary Schools competition were they placed 1st overall for the Aotea region. They won the Whakaeke, Tira, Moteatea, Waiata-aa-ringa, poi, haka and watea sections with both male and female leaders also taking first placings. In July after many evenings and weekends training they travelled to Whangarei to compete in the National Kapa Haka Secondary Schools competition. Competing against 43 groups from around New Zealand they finished a credible 17th with their female leader placing second. The group is a true representation of both a school and community collaboration that encourages excellence in performance.

FEMALE SPORTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Winner: Monique Hornby (NPGHS)
She is a recognised as an exceptional athlete at New Plymouth Girls High School. Described by her nominator as an exemplary student with a no nonsense approach to her studies both in the classroom and sport area. Since 2008 Monique Hornby has represented her school and region in Basketball with the major accomplishments including 2008 New Plymouth u15 rep, 2009 New Zealand Koru team, 2010 New Plymouth u17 rep and the New Zealand u16 Women’s team. In 2011 she was awarded the TSSA Basketball League Best Guard Award and in 2012 she made the u19s national tournament team leading to her selection into the New Zealand u18 women’s team. She is a focused athlete and role model for her peers.

Highly Commended: Anna Hinton (Spotswood College)
Her main sport is Equestrian, in particular the disciplines of dressage, cross country and show jumping. Anna Hinton’s major achievements for 2012 include, NZPCA champion senior show jumper, NZPCA overall winner Taranaki A1 eventing series, 1st place NZPCA North Island show jumping, with various high placings at the 2120 Horse of the Year competition. Anna also plays four other sports to a high level. She is in the Spotswood College senior girls A basketball squad, she is the captain of both the senior girls A football team and the Moturoa football women’s teams, receiving player of the year this year, the senior girls hockey team and the senior girls A volley ball team.

Highly Commended: Nikita Mischewski (Waitara)
She is a competitive gymnast who has represented Taranaki at the National Gymsports Championships since 2006. In 2011 Nikita Mischewski won gold on the Beam and silver on the Vault at the NZ championships. These were the first gymnast medals for Taranaki since 2006 at a national level. This year she won gold on the Vault and was selected for the NZ Steps tour to Hawaii to compete in the Alohafest. In total Nikita has won 11 medals this year and is the current mid-island Step 8 champion and the top senior gymnast at the Waitara Opens in 2012. She is both committed and passionate about gymnastics, trains a minimum of 15 hours per week and coaches a ‘pre comp’ class during the week.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AWARD

Winner: Brad Clarke (Waitara High School)
Brad Clarke is the student leader for the Waitara Students Against Drunk Driving Group. He was instrumental in leading a team of students to deliver 400 mocktails at his school ball, the designing of a driver licensing road show with 13 driver education stalls and the provision of 24 free licences and a driver support programme at Waitara High School and he helped design and co-host a drug and alcohol education event for both students and their parents, attracting an excess of 200 people. The projects he works on and contributes countless hours of time are due to his commitment to working to positively developing other young people in his town. Brad is a patient, well organised young man who shows great empathy toward his peers and community.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Winner: Shaquille Knowles (New Plymouth)
Shaquille Knowles enrolled on a YMCA Education and Development course in January this year. Her aim was to gain further qualifications and to explore career pathway options for the future. It was during this time she requested the opportunity to volunteer at Sparkles, the Young Mum’s early childhood centre. Since then she has gone on to develop many effective and meaningful working relationships with staff at the centre and is now proving to be an absolute asset to the team. Her volunteer work is so highly regarded by Sparkles and she is often requested to support the centre with staff absences. Shaquille’s input is sought with programme planning and development and within her role as a volunteer it has allowed her to complete a number of early childcare unit standards which will help shape her future potential in this field. The Sparkles supervision has said “She is able to work autonomously and regularly uses her initiative. She is extremely mature for her age and experience and she is a fantastic person to have volunteering at Sparkles”.

MALE SPORTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Winner: Tai Juneau (Spotswood College)
Tai Juneau is a talent in his chosen sport of skiing. His list of achievements include, the New Zealand Ski team Wyoming USA Giant Slalom race 32nd overall and 14th in the J2, National races Coronet Peak 5th NZ junior and 7th overall New Zealander, 2nd North Island Secondary Schools Senior Boys Giant Slalom Championships. Tai is also competes in the Spotswood College Senior Boys A Basketball and Volleyball teams, in addition to being in the Taranaki Men’s u19 volley ball team. He is cited as being a reliable young man who relates well and is highly respected by his peers. Dedicated to doing his very best at skiing and always displays the attributes of good sportsmanship.

Highly Commended: Haimona Hiroti (Spotswood College)
Haimona is a very talented young man in his main sport of rugby league. He has had an exceptional last 12 months culminating in his selection into two national teams. He has been identified as a future high achiever in the sport having been offered a training camp for age group players by three Australian NRL clubs, Melbourne Storm, Manly Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitos. Haimona’s other achievements include, Spotswood College 2011 Junior Sportsman of the Year, Taranaki Maori u17 and Taranaki u17 rugby league teams, Central Districts u17 and Central Vipers u17s teams, and selection into the 2012 NZ Residents u16 team playing in Queensland this month.

Highly Commended: Elijah Toetoe (Waitara High School)
Elijah Toetoe is an outstanding junior rugby league player. He is year 10 student at Waitara High School who is focussed academically and ensures he keeps a balance with both his schooling and sporting achievements. His successes to date include selection to the Taranaki Maori u15 team, selection into the NZ Maori u15 team to play in the Pacific Cup u15 tournament, selection to the Central Vipers u15 team and the Waitara Bears u15 team. Tai’s dedication and focus at a young age have resulted in being chosen as a national representative and he is well on track for a bright future in his chose sport.

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD

Winner: Aroha Broughton-Pue (Waitara High School)
Aroha Broughton-Pue is a year 13 student at Waitara High School. One of her many roles in the school is that of the Kaitataki Wahine for the Kapa Haka group. She was instrumental in leading the group to win the Aotea region title earlier this year in Ohakune. Within her role as the female leader of the group, she has a responsibility to be a role model and foster the use of Te Reo. In addition to this role Aroha also competed at the regional Nga Manu Korero competition winning Best Maori Speaker qualifying her to represent the region at the National finals in Nelson. In September she travelled to the national event competing in the Senior Maori section where she had to complete both a formal prepared and formal impromptu speech. She won the Nga Kete o te Matauranga Trophy for Best Female Maori Speaker.

EMPLOYEE/TRAINEE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Winner: Reyse Andrews (Waitara)
Described by her nominator as ‘overly chatty and easily distracted’. This young woman proved to be the most valuable employee to a small New Plymouth business, Tesoro Fresh Mex. The owner operators watched her move from strength to strength as a youthful 18 year old. Reyse Andrews began to share the vision for business success and it showed with her dedication to her role. She was willing to assist with tasks beyond her role and work on her days off. She would discreetly point out any issues or things that had been overlooked in the business and took up a leadership role for a month while the owners were away. The owners of Tesoro Fresh Mex recently decided to sell the business and bemused to them the once ‘easily distracted’ employee of theirs wanted to become the new owner operator. Reyse now owns and runs her own small food business at the age of 20.

SUPER STUDENT AWARD

Winner: Callum Johns (Spotswood College)
With a record of achievement most would dream of, Callum Johns is recognised by his peers and teachers as an extremely high achieving student. In 2010 he gained 158 level one credits, 98 of which were at excellence. Also in year 11 he passed NCEA scholarship geography. In 2011 he gained 133 level two credits, 89 of which were at excellence. In year 12 he also passed NCEA scholarship mathematics with calculus and NCEA scholarship mathematics with statistics at outstanding level. As a year 13 student he has already gained 86 level three credits, of which 67 are at excellence level, with external exams still to be taken. He will sit for scholarship English, Spanish and physics also this year. Callum is currently independently studying two university mathematic papers, in his first semester gaining and A+ in linear maths. He is an amazing all round academic student.

Highly Commended: Rachel Boswell (New Plymouth Girls High School)
Her nominator describes her as a gifted, hardworking student who is determined to succeed at all she does. Since becoming a New Plymouth Girls High School student in 2009 Rachel Boswell has always been in an accelerate class studying a number of achievement standards and entire courses beyond her year level, often being the highest scoring NPGHS student in a course a year ahead of her own level. She has attained a scholars’ award in mid and end of year presentations, which is an award recognising the top 10 students in each year level. In 2010 Rachel was the top scoring Year 11 student in NCEA exams and overall top year 11 scholar. As a year 12 student in 2011, she attained New Zealand Scholarship in Chemistry, English and Mathematics with calculus. Based on this performance she was invited to participate in the prestigious Mathematics Olympiad. She is proactive in her role as Year 13 mathematics and science leader and has worked hard to get her peers and junior students enthusiastic about mathematics and science.

MUSIC AWARD

Winner: Dominic Jacquemard (Francis Douglas Memorial College)
Dominic Jacquemard is a 14 year old Francis Douglas Memorial College student. He is involved in many musical activities both in and out of college. He is modest about his achievements some of which include, competing at the National Brass Band contest with New Plymouth Brass, selected as a member of percussion in to the National Secondary Schools Brass Band, member of percussion Bay of Plenty Music School, and a member of the Taranaki Youth Orchestra since 2011. Dominic’s highest grades obtained include, Snare Drum grade 7 Merit, Drum kit rockschool grade 8 merit, Clarinet grade 5 distinction, Drum kit grade 8 distinction. He won the u19 Solo percussion award which led to his selection into the National Youth Brass Band.

Highly Commended: Estella Winnie McGee (SHGC)
Estella Winnie McGee is a year 11 at Sacred Heart Girls College. She has learned piano and composition for many years, is a self taught guitarist and vocalist. She has been writing and performing her own songs from a young age and this year had significant success as a singer/songwriter. Estella recently entered the Lion Foundation Play it Strange song writing competition. Her song ‘Better in Black’ was selected as one of the top 46 songs in New Zealand, earning her a professional studio recording session. She also entered the Auckland University Songwriter of the Year competition becoming one of the eight finalists. She competed at the finals in Auckland and was placed third equal, a very high achievement as the youngest finalist in the competition.

Highly Commended: Thomas Young (Spotswood College)
Thomas Young is heavily involved in the Spotswood College music department as a vocalist and saxophone player, having also taught himself to play the clarinet. He has developed into a confident performer and has performed on a number of occasions in Hatrix, the Concert Band and other groups. His music teacher believes he has the right combination of skills and personality traits to further his success in the field of teaching music, one of very few students to receive this commendation. Thomas has a natural ability to learn, perform and enjoy music. He has excellent potential and a bright future in music.

MAYOR’S CHOICE AWARDS

Winner: Jessica Leary (SHGC)
Jessica Leary has been awarded the title of Junior Taranaki Female Triathlete and Duathlete of the Year since 2010. Her sporting achievements include, in 2011 placing first in the u16 girls of the Yarrows Round the Mountain Cycle race, she qualified and was selected to represent NZ in the u19 for the World Age Group Triathlon championships and was awarded the Sacred Heart Girls College Sports Person of the Year in 2011. Jessica has competed in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country event representing Taranaki since 2010, and represents her school in hockey and football.

Winner: Olivia MacDonald (NPGHS)
Olivia MacDonald is a year 12 New Plymouth Girls High School indoor and beach volleyball player. This year she was selected for the NZ u17 Indoor Volleyball team and was named player of the tournament at the Trans Tasman 3 test series held in Melbourne earlier this year. Olivia was recently selected into the NZ u17 Beach Volleyball squad targeting the 2014 World Youth Olympics and has also been named in the full NZ Women’s Indoor Volleyball squad to prepare for the NZ Women’s team trials next year. She is looking at possible scholarship opportunities to USA universities when she completes her studies at school.

ECO-FRIENDLY AWARD

Winner: Danielle Blyde (NPGHS)
Danielle Blyde is the 2012 School Environment Leader at New Plymouth Girls High School. She is an active member of environmental community group’s ReGenertation NZ and Hive Taranaki. She initiated NPGHS onto the Enviroschools roll, which helps to give other students great opportunities to get involved in projects and environmental education. As a youth leader for ReGeneration NZ Danielle has been involved in co-founding a Taranaki branch of the group. She attended the Summer Jam 2012 and presented at the Puke Ariki Pecha Kucha about the groups work encouraging active citizenship in the community. During Womad 2012 she coordinated and supervised a number of volunteers to run the recycling booths, a role requiring a high level of leadership. Danielle has continued to show tremendous commitment and enthusiasm for the care of the environment